~A SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC CUBBY MAKEOVER~

~SWEET CUBBY FOR LACE~

For the third year in a row I've decided to participate in the

"WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE PARTY"

hosted by the ever talented

Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage.

Once again this fabulously fun get-together has more than a couple hundred participants.  The grand reveal is July 15, 2011 and I hope you'll stop in for a peek at what's new!  So many incredibly talented women will be taking part in the excitement and we'd love to have you join us as well!  Click one of the links above for more information...

~GREAT FOR OLD RIBBONS and LACES~

Over the past twelve months I've revamped my working studio quite a bit.  As I told you a couple of days ago the wall colors have been changed from a pale pink to a soft creamy white and even though much of the layout has stayed the same I've tried to alter several key elements in the room.  I'm loving the transformation which includes the changing out the skirt on my sewing machine table (to something less busy!) as well as the removal and then the addition of different furniture pieces.  I've been focusing on working "smarter" not "harder" and I'm truly loving the change.

 ~TOTALLY YUMMEEEE~

For me, the reasons for decorating with whites have been simple.  White is capable of unlimited subtleties without ever becoming boring or tiresome.  It's ever lovely, ever fresh.  Even though most of my home showcases this purest of colors I've found when used in my studio or working space it helps me focus on the project at hand instead of everything around me.

 ~GORGEOUS INSERTION LACE~

When I'm out and about tag sale hunting (or just merely junkin', you KNOW it's my favorite past-time, right?) I'm always on the lookout for storage/display pieces I can use in my workroom.  I can't stand digging in big plastic bags for just the right piece of vintage lace or ribbon...it absolutely makes me nuts!!!  I like to see what I have at hand and wasting time "searching" is, well, a waste of time.

 ~LOVE BOTTLES and BUTTONS~

The little cubby you see above was found at a Speigel auction over ten years ago.  I fell in love with all her little drawers and it's been another perfect place for holding bits of old lace and trims.  I've stacked it up with a sweet little piece found at an estate sale...both sit upon an vintage dresser/chest.  Everything has been painted out with my favorite Cottage White Paint (by Behr/Home Depot) before being gently distressed.

In about three weeks or so I'll be showing you more of where I create.  Soooo~  I hope you'll visit me again to see what's new!  In the meantime don't forget to visit Miss Karen and her wonderful blog.  You will LOVE her!!!!

Blessing for an awesome summer day!

Love to you...

~ROMANTIC SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC PRETTIES~ What's Coming Up Next

 ~HAND PAINTED PRETTIES~

From A Gathering Place

I've spent the last several weeks working on SIX different customized Gathering Cases TM (refurbished vintage Train Cases) and I'm happy to say I'm completely caught up!  What an awesome feeling!  Once the last two are delivered (both are going to Italy!) I promise to show you pictures of the final product!

~OLD SPICE JARS and VTG WOODEN BASKET~

Now...since I'm completely SNOWED IN here in Oklahoma (and this Cali Native still thinks it's the pits) I've done tons and tons of base painting on new shabby cottage chic pretties!  I snapped a handful of sweet pictures a few days ago and all but one of the items you see above are ready to be photographed and then uploaded to my website.  I hope by tomorrow afternoon to have everything listed for sale!

 ~VINTAGE METAL LUNCH BOX~

Some of my favorite things will be offered up including this charming old metal lunch box!  My daddy use to carry one just like this!

 ~VINTAGE SEWING DRAWER~

This darling old sewing drawer is a keeper!  It's perfect for holding rolled up hand-towels or washcloths in a romantic bath or can even be used as a serving dish for bread or crackers!  Possibilities are endless!

 ~SEWING DRAWER...SEW CHIC~

Here's another shot of the vintage sewing drawer!

 

~LOTS OF SWEET FINDS~

I know it's hard to tell in this photo, but there is also a vintage writing desk, a darling metal box that is similar to an old train case (this little sweetie is fabuloso and sooo cottage chic!) and also two sets of faux stacked books!  Can't wait for you to see them all transformed!

I'm thinkin' I need to get snowed in more often!  Keeps me from runnin' around junkin' and slummin'! :)

Hope you are having an awesome day!  I'm toasty warm here in my La Chaumière de Briarwood, but make NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT...I'M LONGING FOR SPRING!

Love to you...

~GET 'ER DONE - Have Your Mammogram TODAY~

~GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM TODAY~

OK Ladies...this LITTLE REMINDER IS JUST FOR YOU...

In case you need a little push (I pray you DO NOT!), please, please, PLEASE schedule your yearly Mammogram today! And...if you don't do month Self Breast Exams each and every month then I BEG YOU to begin that today as well! Doing this one tiny little thing each and every month could very well save your life.

Truthfully...I hate the entire process. I hate doing the self-checking thing. It's scary and I struggle to know exactly what it IS I'm looking for. Still...I know my body and I trust my own instincts to notice something that isn't right. AND...just in case I miss something (which is POSSIBLE!), I go every single September for my yearly Mammogram. I go because I love my husband! I go because I love my children! I go because I love myself! As you can see below I was thankful and blessed to receive a good report again this year. Thank you, God.

~A GOOD REPORT AGAIN THIS YEAR~

At present I have five (YES FIVE!) friends that are dealing with Breast Cancer. All are in one stage of treatment or another and I'm thrilled to say my sweet friend, Judy the Beauty, is cancer free. Two more are doing fabulous, one is struggling and one is truly suffering.

Want to know how four of the five found their cancer?

Self Breast Exams! Beautiful Judy(she's really gorgeous - outside & inside!) had a Mammogram and they missed it! After successful chemo and a long recovery, she is doing great now. Thank you AGAIN, God!

May God be with all of you who are either dealing with cancer or are close to someone who is. I'm sure ALL of us know SOMEONE whose life has been changed by this disease and it is my continued prayer that we will all see it wiped out in our lifetime.

Love and blessings to you as you check, check, check and recheck those beautiful Boobies of yours....Rebecca
PS: If you are a MAN and you follow my humble bloggie I encourage you to support the women in your life, be it your Mother, Sister, Wife, Lover, Daughter or Friend... It's quite possible your loving support and encouragement could help save their very life!

VICTORIAN DIE-CUTS - PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR

LOVE TOKEN BOOK

Last Saturday I had a few errands to run and decided to pop into our local Tuesday Morning before spending all my money or groceries! Since our TM store is less than one mile away from my home I tend to spend quite a bit of time there... I love the eclectic mix of their offerings and even find things to re-purpose on occasion! I especially love their "Junque Section"! It doesn't matter to me if something is scratched or a bit dirty...I usually paint over visible damage anyway and I always wash soft goods before using...

One of my favorite places to land in the store is the book section. I love inspirational writing and can't pass up the discounted prices I often find penned by my favorite authors. On Saturday's visit to the store I found the delightful little book above.

Tucked inside this beautiful keepsake are amazing little reproduction Die-Cut Cards, 14 in all. They include sentimental sayings on the reverse side and are quite lovely. On the opposite pages there are little love quotes and snippets of vintage poems. Each Die-Cut is tucked inside an envelope like the one below:

The pretty envelopes open up and on the inside you'll find ....

cards like this....

and this...

this...

and even this!

Each Die-Cut is different and truly special! Want to know what made this an even greater find? The book cost only $3.99.! They only had one (boo hoo!)...I'd have bought all of them if they'd had more! Original price of the Book was $14.95! What a deal!

I just couldn't resist sharing this fabulous deal with all of you! If there is a Tuesday Morning in your town you might want to skip on over and see if you can uncover one of yourself! Sweet as a gift and perfectly delightful when displayed in our romantic homes, too!

Blessings to you as you seek and find...Rebecca

~PRETTY SECOND HAND TABLE~ SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC

~VINTAGE TABLE~SO COTTAGE CHIC~

This charming vintage sofa table was found at a local Secondhand Shoppe about three weeks ago...isn't she shabby cottage chic wonderful? She is FABULOUSO in my opinion and like everything else I rescue from the dump :) I wasted no time in planning this gal's makeover! Unless my pink rose lovin' mind was failing me, I believed she was going to look AMAZING when she was finished with her transformation...

When I spotted this dainty little lady she was still in the store's window! I walked right up to her and wasted no time at all loving on her! She looked incredibly sad and...

~THIS COLOR JUST HAD TO GO~

sooooo BLUE :(!!! She desperately needed a new home and I was more than happy to share mine with her! She was $30 bucks...gasp! Thirty dollars! Do you KNOW how much a pretty table like her would cost new? New is definitely NOT for me!

I noticed right away that my newest girlfriend's shapely legs were a tad-bit wobbly...she probably needed some clamps and glue. But, after MR. AGPMan inspected her he found that she was put together entirely with screws! I've never seen such a thing! SCREWS? She is old, solid wood (no plywood, etc.) and has the date 9/3/1940 on her tummy :)...but SCREWS? Weird! Soooo...this leads me to believe that...

1. My girl was made in Shop Class
2. She was made from a Mail Order Kit
3. She was custom-made by a Craftsman
4. I have no idea

Anyway, after hubbs tightened her up she was sanded down to remove the yellowing varnish. She was then repainted with my FAVORITE Cottage White Paint! After a few days of curing she was LIGHTLY distressed. She is now safe and secure and will live with me forever...

Now...here's a sweet idea for you...

DRIED FLOWERS WITH STYLE

All the flowers my hubby brings to me end up lasting for years and years! I either dry them or make potpourri out of them! The picture above is my FAVORITE way to display those fragrant beauties... A dainty stemmed goblet (this one is old, not expensive, but sweet!) looks simply stunning filled to the top with dried blooms of all kinds~ This one includes rose petals and leaves, carnation petals and stems (I actually LOVE how these turn out!) and lavender. Pretty, huh?

Blessings as you save big bucks shopping secondhand...Rebecca

~VINTAGE MILLINERY BLOOMS~ SOFTLY FADING

FRESHLY MADE MILLINERY SACHET HANGERS

One of the greatest joys I have comes from the making of handmade pretties. Aside from my love of painting PINK ROSES, I simply love working with fine old laces, linens, charming vintage ribbons, buttons and the ever lovely, (and getting harder to find), vintage millinery flowers and blooms. Creating new works of art from snippets of the past just seems to call out to me… Repurposing old finds has easily become my passion. I just can’t resist the allure of an old keepsake I know was once dearly loved.

I do a lot of shopping, but I spend a lot of time looking, too! Boy am I picky and more often than not I’ve found one must wade through a lot of JUNQUE before uncovering the perfect treasure! If I stumble upon vintage goodies, such as these, at estate sales, tag sales, thrift stores (yeah, I’m dreaming here!) or even antique shoppes, more than likely most of the highly sought after Lots come home with me...

PART OF MY VINTAGE FLOWER COLLECTION

With Easter and Mother’s Day on the horizon I’ve spent many hours making Sachet Pillows and decorative Hangers for gift giving. I’ve included a picture of the latest pretties that will be listed on my website later today…

Why not try your hand at fashioning a Sachet for your own Momma (don’t forget that loving MIL), sister or friend? They aren’t nearly as difficult as they may seem and are gifts that will last for years and years to come. Those you love will greatly appreciate the effort and time spent creating something with your own hands!

Blessings to you as you seek to uncover your own passion…Rebecca

REFURBISHING THE DREAM Vintage Train Case Restoration

NEWLY LISTED TRAIN CASE

BEFORE HER MAKEOVER

Oh those beautiful vintage Train Cases! Truly the most alluring of all the lovely and feminine beauty related offerings from our past! I just can’t get enough of them! I love not only their boxy style but I love the era they seem to represent. A time when women were women and weren’t afraid to don a suit and crisp white gloves while shopping in high heels and lunching with friends…

I’ve loved vintage luggage for as long as I can remember and first entertained the thought of refurbishing a Train Case back in the early 1990’s. The idea came when I saw the cover of a craft magazine showcasing an old suitcase with hand painted violets. Back then I was always on the lookout for things to use as PROPS for my retail store…I actually never got farther than just base painting the exterior of a Case that truthfully was better suited for the trash! Still, the concept of taking something once highly sought after, (and certainly past it’s prime), and re-purposing it into something usable for today intrigued me. So, I banked the idea but knew that one day I’d return to the vault that stored all my dreams of restoration.

ROMANTIC HOMES MAGAZINE - SEPT 2006

In September 2006 Romantic Homes Magazine showcased the very Train Cases that once had been only a passing thought (“Cinderella Story” called “Hello, Gorgeous”- written by Hillary Black). I couldn’t have been more excited when I saw my work in print!

Since the day I first saw that craft book cover, I’ve transformed almost 100 Cases turning each one into what I call “Gathering Cases” ™! Perfect for holding memories and keepsakes of all kinds! My favorite Case will always be the one I gave as a gift to my only daughter on her wedding day in September ’07… A creamy cottage white beauty graced with hand painted blush-white and taupe-y white roses! It was lined with the fabric of her gown and included lace from my mother’s wedding dress and the ribbon trim from mine…

FIRST REFURBISHED "GATHERING CASE" (circa 2001)

It’s taken me years to narrow down the BEST Cases and the ones to pass on! I’ve included a picture above of the first Case I ever gave a FULL MAKEOVER to (circa 2001). She is warped (that is what happens when you choose a Case that is NOT wood) and yellowed (used the WRONG kind of sealer), but I still love her!

Normally reserved for special orders, I finally listed a newly refurbished Case on my website (first picture above). I hope you’ll check her out! Be inspired! If I can make them then I promise, you can, too!

Blessings to you…Rebecca

WINTER PATIENCE

A Gift from Michele...

Like many of you my heart’s been searching for any sign of fresh life…SPRING! I’ve been trying desperately (honest, I have!) to enjoy the season of winter, but being a California native…well, it’s been hard. I miss the warm, consistent climate of the West Coast and will always long for the gorgeous sunshine! Even so, it isn’t lost on me that without the dying back of the old, new growth can never take place…

Living in Oklahoma certainly has it’s perks though (like LOWER Real Estate Prices)! Still the reddish-brown earth remains stone-cold-hard and at present, it’s refusing to give birth to even a hint of color… Occasionally one might see a patch or two of blooming something-or-other, but truthfully, even the professionally landscaped gardens are looking a bit peaked.

I’m driven indoors on days like today. When it’s impossible to dig in the dirt, I work inside. Today I focused on rearranging my vintage china cabinet; adjusting old linens and handmade lace, dusting pretty cups and saucers and lovely old Creamware…

Pursuing beauty, whether in the garden or within the home, invites us to escape from our hectic and fast-paced world to a place where even the simplest of pleasures leave us rejoicing!

“Only with the winter-patience can we bring the deep-desired, long-awaited spring.”

--Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Blessings for rest and peace on a winter’s day…Rebecca

WEBSITE OPENING TOMORROW - FREE GIFT

FREE GIFT DRAWING - SACHET PILLOW

(Watch for ANOTHER Free Gift Drawing for a "Painted Pretty" coming up next week!)

Another quick POST to update you on the Website GRAND re-OPENING! :)

I'm not even close to getting everything photographed and discriptions written for the Website! I've decided to keep working and upload what is ready sometime tomorrow instead of delaying the opening! I still have hours of work ahead of me and terribly underestimated how long it would take me to get everything finished! I'm also having quite a time with my aging camera and it's making me hate myself for buying something so advanced when I'm so incredibly TECHNO-challenged!

Trust me when I tell you we are working non-stop on the Site!

Now...about the FREE GIFT(s)!

Here are the RULES to be entered into the drawing for the SACHET PILLOW (to be drawn on the 18th of Feb) shown above:

All you need to do to be entered into the drawing is this:

1. Post a comment on this BLOG from 2/9/09 until 2/17/09 at 11:59PM or...

2. Become a FOLLOWER of my BLOG

If you are a FOLLOWER your name will be automatically entered twice for the DRAWING! If you place a COMMENT it will be entered a third time! You have a chance to have your name entered three times!!!!

Have FUN...

Blessings...Rebecca