Toile in the Family

Before It All Comes Down

2011-12-26T16:51:00.011-06:00

I can't motivate myself to take my decorations down yet. Kind of like I couldn't really motivate myself to put them up in the first place. Not sure what my problem is this year, but I'm hoping that this lack of motivation doesn't last long.

At any rate, I cleared off some surfaces and tried to snap pictures of some of my favorite vignettes this year. I didn't put nearly as much greenery or lights up as I usually do. AND! the lights that I did put up seemed to peter out on me. Could be because they are years and years old. Who knows?

Here is my entrance:

There are lights in that greenery. I didn't get them plugged in until around December 23rd and the timer never worked-so, those lights only lit up the first night. Whatev...

I was on a bit of a cloche kick. Who am I kidding, I'm always on a cloche kick. And a button kick. And a plate kick. And a red kick. You get the idea. But I did like the nativity set under glass.

Next up is the kitchen.

I have a ton of counter space, but this counter is a thorn in my side. For one thing, the wall had a horribly placed light switch/outlet plus a sink. Also it is clutter central. But I did manage to find an arrangement for the wall that I think I actually like. I'll talk more about that another day. For Christmas, I just put some ornaments on a couple of the plates.

This corner holds a vignette I love really just because of the polka dots.

The "Ho balls" (or "OH balls" depends on how you read them) are some that I bought and some that I made. The white ones are ceramic and bought. The red ones are red ping pong balls that I painted "ho" onto with a paint pen. I love them! Here is a close up for comparison of the two varities.

Last up is the sun porch. Some other changes have taken place in there, but let's just look at the tree and one corner.

I bought the burlap birds from Ballard's and the red snowflakes I got last year on clearance.

Thanks for dropping by! I'm off to procrastinate a little bit longer!

The 2011 Mantles

2011-12-05T20:36:00.001-06:00

For those of you who were bored with me only showing previous mantles(Elise :) ). I'm finally showing off the 2011 mantles. And my new white brick...

There are lots of people having mantle parties. Check down at the bottom and go visit them. If you haven't done your mantles yet, you are sure to find some inspiration or some more pins for pinterest if nothing else!

I'll start with the upstairs mantles.

My "Fa la la" has made it's 3rd appearance, the window is back for it's second year. This year I decided to use my red, silver, and blue ornaments that were on top of my kitchen cabinets last year.

I just stuck them on white and or glass candlesticks that were nestled among the garland.

This vignette sits on the hearth. The presents are just empty boxes, but I love that blue and white polka dot paper too much to let ALL of it get ripped to shreds!

Alright, let's move downstairs.

This mantle is very similar to the upstairs one. I used some favorite ornaments that I found at Kirkland's about 5 years ago. I'm using more black accents downstairs so I used black candlesticks and black polka dot ribbon in my garland.

On the hearth I stuck some miniature trees into red buckets and added some light green filler.

Here's a full fireplace shot. What do you think of the new white brick? That one oddball brick had some interesting writing on it and I didn't want to paint over it.

The new paint job definitely lightens up the downstairs. I've done some rearranging down there, but I may wait until after Christmas to share the new views.

I'm linking up at:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
From My Front Porch to Yours

Southern Hospitality

Stories of A to Z
Thanks for stopping in, drop me a hello so I can return the friendliness!

Christmas on the Table

2011-12-04T21:05:00.016-06:00

As my kickoff to the 2011 Holiday Blog Posts, I'm linking up with Layla for her "Tabletop Party."

There are lots of ways to interpret that,

but I chose to feature the two tabletops that we eat off of.
First up is the one we gather around the most-the kitchen island. I try to keep this area simple because we are usually spread around it and I need room for the ketchup and ranch dressing!

I took an off-white urn that hubby bought me at an auction for about $7, filled it with red ornaments (with some bags in the bottom for filler), stuck in my favorite light green eucalyptus and some sparkly berries. Then I tied a big red bow on it just for kicks.

Then I leaned this big ole paper mache ornament on it. I don't even remember where I found this, but it was one of those things that I loved the minute I saw it and I had no idea where I would put it.

I forgot to mention that I put it all on a tray. To make it easy to move if I need more room for ketchup and ranch dressing.

Next table top is my dining room table.

Honestly this room doesn't get much action

because I am too lazy to carry everything the extra 10 steps.

I started with a polka dot table runner, added a silver tray and gathered up a large reindeer and silver trees.

I added some greenery and different tones of silver ornaments.

I hung these "peace," "joy," and "noel" ornaments from the chandelier.

Christmas Mantles-Past

2011-11-25T15:31:00.011-06:00

Happy Black Friday!

Yes, I braved the crowds, got pushed around a little, but managed to come home with everything that I intended to. (And a few things I didn't plan on).

I did hear about somebody getting backhanded over a $1.30 towel at the Wal-Mart that I was shopping in.

Craziness, I tell you.

Now that the holiday season is officially upon us, I am working on my getting my house decked out.

Until the house is company ready, here is a look at the past 2 Christmases in this house (at least where the mantles are concerned.)

The look this year is already different from the last 2 but you'll have to wait a little bit longer for those pictures. In the meantime, let's get in the time machine and go back to 2009.

Remember, this was before the fireplace went white. And the backs of the built-ins went blue, then went darker blue. And the walls went blue. Lots of changes in 2 years people.

I'm nothing if not consisent in my indecisivness.

Downstairs mantle before it went white.

Oh, that's right. You haven't seen that finished product yet

I'm slacking on you people. Sorry.

Then we move on to 2010. Here's the upstairs mantle, which I really loved.

And the downstairs mantle.

New stuff in the works for the 2010 holiday. Come back for ideas (good or bad :) ) or just to be nosy!

Fall Entrance

2011-10-13T23:14:00.014-05:00

I do not enjoy working outside. But I DO enjoy driving up to a house that has some hint of curb appeal, so I press on.

One of the reasons I do not enjoy working outside is that I cannot keep plants alive. Maybe if I remembered to water them I would have more success, but that is just too much remembering for this old girl to do.

When it came to my front entrance, I had visions of mums and pumpkins dancing in my head. Then I decided that it was ridiculous to fork out a bunch of money on mums that would probably not make it through Halloween.

So here's what I did.

I have used and used and used these square wreaths on my front doors. However, when I got them out for the fall they were looking rather, well rather used.

They were terribly faded. I was very sad because they were kind of expensive and I just couldn't replace them. Then I thought about the leafy green spray paint I had in the garage. A couple quick shots of spray paint and they were as good as new!

I covered some cushions in red vinyl tablecloths. I spent $6 on mini pumpkins and gourds at the local farmer's market. I also allowed myself to spend $6 on 3 mums. (They probably won't make it til Halloween, but I can stand losing $6.) Oh and I didn't repot the mums. I just wrapped them in scraps of burlap tied with raffia.

I thought about putting a mum in this basket, but I liked the look of piled up pumpkins instead. Actually it is just 3 pumpkins, the orange one is sitting on a small paint can. Oh and the ivy is fake. Yeah, I'll probably be that old lady that puts fake flowers in her flower beds. I kind of care that it's not real, but then I remember that I don't have to water it and that I can't kill it. So then I stop caring.

Now here's some close ups...

And some wide shots...

Oh and that giant mum. I didn't buy that one. I'm just babysitting it for a friend :)

It is hoping she returns soon!

The New Living Room

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, hubby went off to the "academy where you learn to fold your clothes in ridiculously small ways."

(Actually he is at the Kentucky State Police Academy. As of October 30, he will be a Kentucky State Trooper.)

He has been gone (during the week) since the end of May.

I had big, big plans while he was gone; some have been accomplished, some have not.

This is one of those that WAS accomplished.

You all also know that I have painted and repainted at least 5 rooms in our house since we moved in almost 2 years ago. I picked the paint for all the upstairs rooms prior to moving in and let's just say that I regretted the decisions within the first 6 months. That led to the dining room redo last winter.

This summer I finally chose the wall color and proceeded to repaint the living room and kitchen (as well as rearrange the living room) at approximately 1am. Seriously, I did. go check my facebook statuses if you don't believe me.

Anyway, here are the befores.

It is so strange to me how different things look IRL that they do in pictures. The living room never really bothered me until I saw how it played out on "film." It was then that I realized the yellow was not working for me (along with the brick with black grout). Here is the same wall after paint and rearranging.

Now I must tell you that is the spot that "Cindy" was supposed to go.

Who's Cindy?

Go read this and this and see for yourself.

I was so excited about putting a dresser there that I had to find a replacement for Cindy. I found this little sweetie at an auction-big surprise huh? She was much more expensive than Cindy's $15 price tag, but I guess you have to be willing to pay more for furniture WITHOUT powder post beetles!

This was one of those shots that made me say-yuck, I need to do something about that brick! Here is a similar shot after the new paint.

This is the view as you walk in from the foyer.

Finally, here is a tour of the living room. I realized that you all really haven't seen my living room from all angles.

So here goes.

Now you are walking around the couch...
(and yes that lamp shade is wompy-jawed. I cannot get it to stay straight!)

This is the view from the fireplace looking back towards the foyer.

View from the hearth looking towards the hallway.

This is the view from the hallway looking towards the kitchen.

View from the kitchen.

And an overall view of the living room.

Now, I will give you some close-ups of some of my favorite areas.

I showed you all part of this wall in me "Q is for Quaint" post.

I tweaked it by adding pictures of hubby and I when we were three.

And no room of my is complete without adding some transferware.

The color is from Benjamin Moore's "Wythe Blue" swatch.

It is the lightest color tinted at 3/4 strength. The backs of the bookshelves are painted the darkest color on the swatch-I think it is Paladian Blue. So far I'm loving the blue.

I want to add some more throw pillows and possibly hang some more plates, but for the most part I'm content with the room!

I'm on fall break this week. I'm hoping to get a post on my outside decorations and maybe my kitchen. Oh and I have more changes to my laundry closet. Maybe I did get some things accomplished while hubby was away folding his clothes and shining his boots!

Fall Under Glass

2011-10-07T17:18:00.008-05:00

Happy Fall y'all!

I'm slowly getting stuff out. I still need to do my kitchen island, and the downstairs mantle, and the outside entry, and maybe a little something in the bathroom. Yikes. I need to quit thinking about this.

Let me just start with what I HAVE managed to accomplish. I shared with you my fall mantle. Today, let's go take a look in the dining room.

When I was thinking about my table, I pictured using all my cloches with neat little fall things under them. I LOVE cloches. I'm always drawn to them in stores, even though I don't need any more! You can see some of them decorated for Christmas here.

But let's move on to fall.

Here is the view as you walk in the front door. I put a scrap of burlap in the center of the table then spread the cloches around on it.

To create a nice contrast, I put some of the cloches on silver plates, compotes or trays. I found the big acorn at Hobby Lobby for 50% off. The little white vase holds a little bunch of leaves. The smallest cloche has fake acorns inside it (also a HL purchase).

Here are some close ups:

By the way these gourds are just plastics ones that I wrapped with twine.

I love using twine about as much as I love using buttons!

Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear who come's knocking so leave a comment and say hello! Next up will be my repainted living room, the downstairs mantle and the kitchen!

Field Trip-Part 3

2011-09-28T08:30:00.009-05:00

If you were absent for the other field trips, you can catch up here and here. You don't even have to have a doctor's excuse!

The last installment is to show you all some signs that I made for my classroom. I'm sure you all are like me and find all kinds of inspiration in stores and on the 'net. If you are also like me you think "I'm not paying that! I could totally make that myself!" When I feel guilty for creative theft, I just remind myself that copying is the highest form of flattery.

When you first walk into my classroom this sign greets you:

I found several variations of this on pinterest. I painted mine to have a "used chalkboard kind" of look then I picked some of my favorite lines from the inspiration ones.

This next sign was the first one I ever painted. I still love the message.

I have it hanging over my student computer workstations:

Next up isn't really a "sign" but maybe it is. It coordinates with my "Mrs. Cash" letters I showed you last time. Go up top for the link. I did the same thing: different font styles decoupaged with fabric and/or paper and at least one was spray painted. "Lakers" are our district's mascot

. Not really sure what a "Laker" is, but I support 'em just the same.

Next sign I saw in a store and I took a picture of it because I HAD to make it for my students because they do...

Up last is one more idea taken from pinterest. If any of you are teachers you've definately heard the phrase "I can't do it."

I tell my students to put the word "yet" on the end of their sentence.

Or what about this phrase? (spoken by a student as I AM EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT)

"I don't get it." Drives me crazy. every. time. But I still love my job!

Field Trip-Part 2

2011-09-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

We are back in the classroom today.

I showed you the entrance and a few details yesterday. Today let's go look at my desk.

If any of you are teachers, you know that most of the furniture in your class has been handed down since the beginning of time.

That bookshelf was no exception. I spray painted it red this summer to brighten it up. That task was more than just a little pain in the bootay. At least 3 cans of spray paint and then it kept getting this weird film on it. It just about did me in.
If any of you know me at. all. then you will not be shocked by the baskets. It's not that I have a basket fetish, I just have a "it has be cute fetish." I made little chalkboard labels for the baskets and tied them on with ribbon.

Above the bookshelf are my decoupaged letters.

It says "Mrs. Cash" if you can't tell.

I went to Hobby Lobby and found the letters I needed in as many different styles as possible. The "M" is just as it came. The other letters I decoupaged with scrapbook paper or fabric. (I used the same fabric from the drop cloth drapes.)

I hot glued magnets on the back.
(Many of the walls in the school are metal. Or magnetic. I'm not sure how to say that. Magnets stick to the walls-k?)

I originally wanted to put the letters above the windows in the room, but those walls weren't magnetic. Or metal. Or whatever. Then I couldn't even get 3M strips to stick to them. Plan B was to put them behind my desk. So there.

On the front of my desk I made this nameplate with some extra scrabble letters. Remember my sign on the door?
But I decided to spray paint the tray red.

#1 because it is the school's color (and my favorite color) and

#2 it is against the law for me to leave it plain.

It's helpful to have that nameplate there just in case someone missed the ginormous name on the wall behind me.

Here is a shot of my pencil cup. I had another one but it got on my nerves that it was really full and all the pens and pencils and highlighters were all mixed together. I found this polka dot one at Cracker Barrel and it is perfect for sorting!

Plus it spins and it is polka dot, you just can't go wrong with a good polka dot!

Behind that is my "To Do Thing." I am constantly making "to do" lists and sticking them all over my desk. I am also always remaking "to do" lists because I lose the first ones under all the stuff that accumulates throughout the day.

I got this from Wuslu this summer. It was when they had their "surprise box" deal. Honestly I was a little disappointed when I got it, but then I thought about making it into something to hold all my lists! Of course I spray painted it too. I went with blue this time-the other school color.

I have gotten a ton of compliments on this and it has helped me cut down on the number of post-its I use in a day!

Next post I'm going to share some of the artwork I've made for the room. Check back!

Field Trip-Part 1

2011-09-19T16:45:00.012-05:00

I've shown you all pretty much all over my house. Today we are going to go on a field trip!

I am the Title I teacher at a local elementary school. That means that I work with small groups of children who need extra instruction in reading, math or even behavior/social skills. My classroom used to be science lab and storage room. This is my second year in this room and there are many things I would still love to do. But let's go take a look. I'll break this down into a few posts because there are several little things I want to show you all. And I want to make you come back :)

Entering from the adjoining room:

The "Keep Calm" sign was my adaption to the "Keep Calm" stuff you can now find all over the place. I had a super old scrabble board in the depths of my cabinet that wasn't being used so I created a display. (The board is super and it is old, but I really mean for it to be super-old. As in extra old.)

I tried to think of as many "school words" as I could. It was easy at first, then I started running out of letters. I laid out the design. Made adjustments when I needed an extra word in other places then hot glued the letters down. I used 3M velcro hanging strips to hang it on the door.

The word "target" is my attempt to bring Senate Bill 1 into my crafting-- Not.

As you look across the room, you can see the big old wall o' cabinets.

This was a total. eyesore. Great storage, but not so easy on the eyes.

The cabinets are great, but I could not work in the room while staring at all the junk that was on the shelves. It would literally drive me insane. I got some drop cloths, a few yards of fabric, some ribbon and stitch witchery to help me with the cover up.

I just cut the fabric into strips, added the stitch witchery to the sides and ironed it onto the drop cloths. To hide the rough edges I hot glued the white ribbon on top of the sides. To hang them I bought cheap cafe rods and used curtain clips. I didn't even hem the drop cloths; I just folded over the extra fabric.

Thanks for dropping by! Later in the week I'll show you my desk and the artwork I've painted for the room.

Still Got the Blues

2011-09-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

I really struggle in the picture taking realm. I wish I could get the camera to see what my eyes are seeing. But most times I take a picture I think that it looks nothing like what I see IRL.
Then there are the times that when I take a picture and I say "Whoa, this is tragic." It happened with daughter #2's room and while I didn't change things right away, I DID change things.
It also happened with my upstairs fireplace.
My living room used to a golden yellow. It was a beautiful color, but with my red couch it felt a little like ketchup and mustard to me.

So one night this summer I repainted the room (which connects to the kitchen) and rearranged it.

But that is a post for another day.
The built-ins around the fireplace were very similar in color to the new walls. I couldn't have that. I was still using the paint chip from my dining room so I just picked the darkest shade on there. Paladian Blue.
Then I restyled it, emphasizing whites, reds and only things I love.

This is the left side of the fireplace.

Now we'll zoom in on some of the "stuff."

Here is a sand dollar that Little Man found in Florida and brought me back.

Hanging behind that is a poem I wrote in first grade about my favorite stuffed animal Rosebud. I won first place for it in a city wide contest!

I love that you can see the eraser marks where I was trying to get my final draft just perfect.

Of course my familty has a prime spot. Beside them are some number orbs that I made out of ping pong balls. All the orbs have numbers that are important to our family like birthdays, anniversaries and code numbers that mean something only to us.

I found a pair of these kruel work pictures at an antique store and fell in love with them. The lamp, well sometimes a lamp is just a lamp. No story there.

Along with a piece of transferware, this shelf holds two special pictures. The bigger one is my mom as a child with her mother (my grandmother, obviously). The small picture is of my dad taken in Korea while he was serving during the Korean War.

This white pot and wire basket aren't sentimental, but I really like them. Like I always tell my BFF if you love something go for it; you will probably always love it. If you are getting it just to fill a space it will not last in your heart very long.

(But she'll send me text pictures of things and say "do I love this?" to which I will have to tell her if I would love it or not. She kills me-but in a sweet way!)

Finally rounding out this side is a ceramic copy of my elementary school, Atkins-Porter. It is especially important to me now since the school was torn down many years ago. I can remember many class pictures being taken on those steps as well as trips down those steps to get on buses for field trips.

This is the right side of the built ins. The stuff over here isn't as sentimental, but it is still stuff that I really like, not just space filler.

I have some of my china and a metal sign that hubby got for me. It says "A man's house is his castle, until the queen arrives." He calls me the queen. The bottom shelf holds a basket of dog toys. It's pretty cute to watch the dogs reach up to get something out of their basket. They haven't learned to put things back though.

The old leather books are commentaries of hubby's and I have the matching kruel work picture over here as well.

I love this arrangement so much better than the old one. I think it is the simplicity of focusing on white with touches of red and the fact that it is stuff that I really want to see all the time.

I think next week I'll show you all my classroom. I have several things in there to show off. I just wish I had taken before pictures. Just for a hint, it started as the school science lab. Let your imagination run wild!

Fall Mantle

2011-09-11T15:35:00.011-05:00

I was so happy when it was finally September so I could have the excuse to pull out my fall stuff. Are you as done with hot weather as I am?

We've gotten a small dose of fall this week and it has been glorious!

I have made some other changes to the living room, like paint (total shock I know) and I'll share that with you all next week.

For now, let's take a look at the mantle.

If you remember, my both my fireplaces have ginormous hearths that I have to include in the decorations. (I say have to, I guess I don't have to. But, well I just have to!)

For some reason I am wanted more simplicity in some of my accessories. I have been drawn to white but with the white fireplace (remember that whole decision making process?) I needed them to pop just a little more so I picked some ribbon to add to some of them.

On the other side I added some pillows for additional seating. The crown pillow I made by creating a stencil with my cricut onto freezer paper and painting it on a drop cloth.

These boxes I think are old sewing machine drawers. I thought about painting them (another shocker) but then I kind of liked them wood. And they have a worn gold detail on the front that is kind of nice. So, for now they are staying sans paint.
The sign that my decorating is a trial and error process is the white ribbon that is tied to the drawers. The price tags hung from them and I just hadn't taken them off because I hadn't settled on a home for the drawers yet.

And now I guess I'm just too lazy to cut it off. Seriously, every time I look at the boxes I think "I really should go get the scissors and cut that ribbon off."

But then I see a squirrel.

(You know like on "UP" where the dog is talking then says "SQUIRREL!!" and gets all distracted? That's me.)

By the way is anyone like me, in that, I can't have people watching me when I am styling a room. Many times I move things several times and switch things in and out, around and around until I am satisfied. I don't like people watching me through this process because it makes me self-conscious that they are making judgements about what I am doing while I am still unsure myself. Anyone? Maybe it's just me.

Anyway, moving on...

Just the mantle (that I am still thinking about painting black)

And finally the whole fireplace:

I have another post scheduled later this week featuring the bookshelves surrounding the fireplace. Big and small changes around here.

Hubby is still at the school where they teach you to fold your clothes in ridiculously small ways so I am trying to pass the time until he is done. He gets to come home on weekends and there have been a few weeks where the house he left on Sunday was not the same house he came to Friday night. But he's okay with that. At least he let's me think he is :)

Linking up...

Pin it Up

2011-07-26T22:21:00.010-05:00

**Disclaimer: My camera is broken. I never took that great of pictures anyway, but now I'm in real trouble. All these pictures in this post were taken from my iPhone. Thus, the potential poor quality.**

I'm just going to skip the apologies.
There comes a point when it is just too late to apologize. Kind of like when you are around someone for a long time without ever really knowing their name. After a few months you just can't ask his or her name. You have to go on some kind of reconnaisance mission to find it out.

Anyway.
You all know I love auctions. Duh right?
You also know that I find things that I really have no idea what is going to happen to them. I simply experienced love at first sight.
This is what happened with this little "beauty."

Old frame, cool details, auction atmosphere. It had me at hello.

It is pretty worn out. Very dirty and doesn't have any glass.

My initial plan was to put a family picture in it and hang it in the stairwell.

But it sat in the garage for, goodness, about 3 months.

Then one night it hit me.

Chicken wire and mini clothespins.

I was so excited to get it done. So here goes...

I painted it Stratton Blue by Benjamin Moore.

It is on the same color swatch as my dining room Wythe Blue.

Then I added some glaze to bring out the details in the frame and add more texture to it.

Then I went to Lowe's and bought some chicken wire for like $4 and stapled it to the back of the frame.

I found mini clothespins at Hobby Lobby.

I wanted them to be red (surprise, surprise) but they would be tricky to spray paint. I took them outside and clipped them to some leaves on a tree in the front yard.

Part of my tree now looks like a Japanese maple with its newly painted red leaves. Oh well, fall is around the corner and they will fall off anyway!

I knew I wanted to put it on the side of the fridge because that side faces the living room and I wanted something cute to look at.

I used 3M velcro tapes to stick it to the fridge. (I'm in love with those things. Really. I could do a whole blog post about all the places I've used them in my house. And I'm not getting paid to even say that--hint hint 3M.) This picture you can see just the frame with the red clips.

Now I added all the "stuff."
You know, the stuff that gets stuck up with magnets all over the place?
Oh, well maybe you don't live like that. If I don't want to lose something I stick it on the fridge. Maybe I'm weird.
Anyway, having something cute to put it all on makes it look so much better!

And this is the view I have from the big chair in the living room.

I love it. Hubby thinks it is weird.

He is not loving the chicken wire. But what does he know, he is at the school where you learn to fold your clothes in ridiculously small ways. I think they have messed up his way of thinking-at least where the house is concerned! Not like chicken wire-really, give me a break!

To celebrate my return to blogging, I'm joining in with Savvy Southern Style for "Wow Us Wednesday." Hubby may not have been wowed by chicken wire, but maybe someone else out there will be! Come by and see what else might "wow" you!

By the way, Cinderella is officially gone, but I have a new love that I hope to introduce you to very soon! Don't give up on me. I have a new living room color, repainted fireplace, rearranged sunroom, new furniture piece and a couple tables to show you guys. I promise I have the projects I just can't find the time to sit down and talk about them!

I'm Not Just Eating Bon Bons...

2011-06-23T22:06:00.014-05:00

I just wanted to show you guys one of the projects I've been up to since you last heard from me.

I promise I've been busy.

Hubby is at the academy where "you learn to fold your clothes in ridiculously small ways," I am taking my next to last master's class, I have 3 kids and 3 dogs who seem to go different directions at the same time. Blogging has taken a backseat.

Sorry :(

Anyway, this post is about my master bedroom. "I've seen it" you say?

I don't think so. Remember the blues? This room got them too.

My bedding was in sorry, sorry shape. I love toile and red and Hubby really likes blue. I struggled for awhile how to marry our loves without looking all "Americana."

It's not that I'm non-patriotic, I just had visions of 1980's countrified Americana decor. Then I found the fabric. For me it always starts with the fabric.

Then I found the blue. And I think it just took off from there.

I kept a very little bit of the original red toile to make a "napping blanket." I got a simple blue blanket from Wal-mart, sewed the red toile on the front and then put about 9-10 covered buttons on it to keep the two pieces of fabric from shifting too much.

My old dining room table has become a desk. Granted I'm sitting on the bed typing this blog, but the desk looks cute doesn't it?
This chair was the inspiration. It was another auction find, but this one got a little expensive.

I had hubby bidding against this really oddball guy and I just couldn't let him and his oddballness have it. While the bidding was going on he would get really close to the auctioneer and just stare at him while he was deciding if he should bid again or not. Then when he would decide to bid he would make a big deal about bidding-throw his hands in the air and yell really loud. That chair would have been so unhappy at his house.

I put these old closet doors behind the dresser because it is on a really long wall and I needed to break up the wall. I did not want to think about what to do with that big ole wall. I actually like how the white breaks up the blue. Closet doors behind furniture is my new favorite thing.

I used chalk paint on the chest. I'm not completely sold on chalk paint yet. It is easy to use, but I didn't fork out the bucks for the waxes so the polyurethane yellows the paint. Plus I'm not used to the heavily distressed look. Maybe I just need more practice.
I added the monogram to the headboard using contact paper and my Cricut. It was a big ole brown space that just needed a little sumpin.

You know how much I love plates. This is just part of my collection of red transferware. Some plates are hung with nails and some are hung with 3M velcro tabs. It is one of my favorite parts of the room! You know how I am about "views." This is the view from my bed.

This picture is taken before the plate wall was done, but you can see the closet doors and my some other favorite pictures. You can also see the "napping blanket" being put to use by my youngest daughter!

I decided that I would enter my "Americana" bedroom over at the CSI challenge this week. Come on by and see the other red, white and/or blue entries!

Also linking up with Roomspiration:

The Clock Strikes Twelve...

2011-06-22T20:43:00.016-05:00

I introduced you all to Cinderella a l-o-o-o-o-nn-n-ng time ago.

The last time you saw her she was in her "mouse dress."

It took me another l-o-o-o-o-o-o-on-n-g time to decide on a color. I thought about red, but a house can only handle one Scarlett. She doesn't share the limelight with anyone.

I wanted to do something bold and blue, but I wanted the flexibility to put Cindy whereever my mood strikes and blue felt a little limiting.

I thought about white or black but, as my oldest daughter says, I paint everything black or white. No, Cindy needed something less predictable.

I finally decided on a shade of black. (Way to go out on a limb Mols). It is a Benjamin Moore color called "Wrought Iron." It is almost navy and it going to look fab against my new living room color.

It hasn't been polyurethaned yet...

BONG!!!

BONG!!! Did you hear something?

BONG!!! There it is again...

BONG!!! Seriously that is getting annoying. Do you hear it?

I already have the spot all picked out in the house for it. It is going to look so amazing.

BONG!! Wait. What is that?

See those holes? What character it adds to Cindy.

BONG!!! Hold it. How did this get so dirty?

BONG!!! What is this?

Well, after several google searches, phone calls to local bug people, and emails to some people who I consider to be furniture experts I diagnosed Cindy to have "powderpost beetles."

BONG!!!

Yep folks. The clock has struck twelve and my poor Cindy is sitting all alone with nothing but the beetles to keep her company.

My research tells me that it is going to cost me three figures to get her clean. Granted I only paid $15 for her, but that price just isn't worth it.

I seriously thought about just throwing caution to the wind and putting her in the house anyway, but according to pest experts those little creatures can spread to other furniture and are impossible to kill without major fumigationm and expensive pesticides.

I thought maybe the paint would seal them in. I thought the hot summer heat would kill them. Nope. The sawdust says it all. Those little piles just appeared yesterday. So even if I do love her and I already have the space for her, she is going to the curb. It is going to kill me. I guess I am the wicked step-mother afterall.

WAHHHHH!!! (That's me crying.)

A Cinderella Story

2011-04-26T12:50:00.013-05:00

Welcome visitors from Miss Mustard Seed! I sure need y'alls help today! Keep reading and see where I need your input!!

I introduced you all to this "lovely" lady last week:

and I issued a challenge to guess the name.

Only 3 of you took me up on it. Nana Diana guessed Veronica. Nope, sorry Nana D.

Robin went with "Swan." Nice try and a good guess but still nope!

The winner was Andrea with Cinderella!

Complete disclosure makes me tell you all that I know Andrea IRL. We actually go to church together, but she has never laid eyes on the future Cinderella, nor did I talk to her about her. She is just super smart and figured out my clues! (Happily Ever After, the shoes??)

Anyway, due to a REALLY bad storm last night resulting in much of the town being without power and no school for anyone (even the university) I was able to get started acting as Cinderella's fairy godmother.

Because she is in such bad shape, I decided to prime her and opt out of the "distressed" look.

The primer is done and I think Cinderella resembles more of herself in her "mouse dress."

You know, better but really not all that great.

Actually, she looks more like Cinderella in the mouse dress AFTER the step-sisters got hold of her.

You know, better but in pieces all over the floor.

"Cindy" is going to have to stay in her primer/mouse dress for a little bit longer, because I'm just not sure what color dress to make her.

White seems the obvious choice, but I want to think about some other options too.

Ya'll have any ideas?

Nana D? Robin? Andrea? Anyone else?

I linked up with Miss Mustard Seed and her Furniture Friday and hopefully some of the talent there can give me some ideas.

(I did have an interesting thought from a reader to try a bold blue-I'm considering it, just a little skeered!!)

As soon as I work some magic of my own, I'll show you her happily ever after!
By the way, Andrea, I'm getting together some goodies for you. If you have any preferences of colors let me know!!

The Sun Will Come Out...Tuesday? And a Giveaway!

2011-04-18T20:16:00.007-05:00

First if you are all about a giveaway go read this post and leave me a comment with your guess of my newest dresser's name!

Now, onto the latest Toile news...

You all know I am a teacher. Well, my poor kids don't stand a chance.

For example, Little Man really has no concept of time. The words "today," "tomorrow," and "yesterday" allude him.

If you ask him "What is the day after this day called?" He will say "Tuesday?"

Now, everyday he sits at the "Morning Meeting" in his class and they go over this concept. But because I know that he is easily distracted I don't really think he has paid attention during this apparently crucial concept. I also know that his nonverbal, visual skills are much stronger than his verbal skills so I came up with something to may help him "see" the concept a little better:

I just used a scrap piece of chalkboard contact paper and wrote (in my liquid chalk markers) the days of the week (actually one of the other kids wrote the days) I bought some chipboard rectangles from Hobby Lobby for like $1 and mod podged some scrapbook paper, added another piece of chalkboard contact paper and wrote the words "today," "tomorrow" and "yesterday" on them.

Every day Little Man has to physically move the magnets to the appropriate day and then say "Today is ______," "yesterday was _________," and "tomorrow will be ________."

In a week or so I will start the morning with only one magnet left in the place it was the previous day and he will have to figure out what day it is and where the magnets go. If you are feeling sorry for my kids you should. Keep reading...

One night at dinner I asked Little Man if it was stinky having a mom at your school. (I teach at their school).

He simply said "yeah."

I couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to probe deeper.

I said "Is that because I am on you all the time?"

Little Man replied, "Like stink on a monkey."

Let the "feeling sorry for" feelings commence.

Impatiently Working Towards Happily Ever After

2011-04-17T19:58:00.008-05:00

I'm impatient.

I'm quite sure I have revealed that before though.

Because of that fact, this little diamond in the rough is kind of making me cranky.

Before you read any further you probably also know that I personify a lot of my furniture. Meaning that I name them.

Scarlett? Bluebell?? Well in true psycho-decorator fashion I already have name for this little beast. But I'm not going to tell you yet.

In fact, I am going to make it a competition. Read on... She has lots of issues. Chipped veneer. Moldy drawers. Missing details.

But I see so much potential! Plus she was $15.

Surely for that price I can afford to invest some sweat equity. I started by trying to glue the veneer back on. Epic fail. So I just started chipping it off where it was lose.

I am hoping that paint will cover a multitude of sins. Next step was cleaning it. I started by cleaning it with TSP. Then I pulled the drawers out--YUCK!!!

I'm not a germ-a-phobe but man they were kind of disgusting. I broke out the bleach and cleaned the drawers and the innerds of the dresser. But as I was grossing out, gagging and bleaching the fire out of my hands

(all while wearing heels-no joke. I staying in my church clothes while I did this)

I saw what drew me to dear ____________(ha! you thought I would slip and reveal the name) in the first place.

I'm a sucker for some cute shoes and she is wearing some cute shoes. Now, for the competition part.

Comment me what you think I am naming this dresser (1 guess per person).

I am putting together a little treat bag for the correct response. I don't have it together yet, but I am thinking about a painted dishtowel, a spring button design, and maybe a few other goodies. If more than one person gets it right, I will put your names in a hat and draw the winner.

I'll leave this little contest open until Sunday at 9pm and announce the winner Monday morning.

Let the guessing begin!

Spring Break and a New "Toy"

2011-04-10T20:11:00.000-05:00

You should all be happy to know that I survived spring break.

It went much better than winter break (which was not at all planned, but rather a snow storm-or two-that caused school to be cancelled for a week).

I was reading P Dub and she was talking about a new app that I thought I would check out. Cause if P Dub is talking about it, it must be pretty cool.

That app is called "instagram" and it is just fun.

You basically take pictures, put you can add all kinds of neat effects to them.

My favorite is the "early bird." It kind of looks like an old fashioned picture that has faded some.

I really like it cause it makes me look like a better photographer. You all have seen my pics, you know I kind of stink at the lighting and the angles and such.

Anyway, here is my spring break in instagram pictures:

Much of the time was spent answering the question "Can I have a snack?"

Sometimes I was the one asking the question. Refer back to the link above for my comments over my eating habits over breaks.

Painting

Preparing to paint (but I think I used the wrong swatch when I had it mixed--blimey!)

Spray painting, spray painting and more spray painting.

Yes, I have used ALL those cans in the picture!

Attending class. I may not be teaching this week, but I still had to go to class.

I am working on my masters in guidance and counseling. After the class pictured above, I only have 2 more to go! (However, I would really like to get a school psychologist license (degree? I'm not really sure what to call it-- all I know is that it requires many more classes.)

A trip to Paducah with 4 girls. Stops included Chuck E. Cheese, the mall and the local park. It was a good trip.

The kids were great!

The 2 youngest chicks in the "Hurricane Simulator"

While painting a fireplace (hmmmm, another fireplace? Curious anyone?)

I saw this brick and I just couldn't paint over it. Impressed anyone? (Elise?)

Especially after my whole I'm not a lover of wood post.

I put this in there to keep it real.

I hadn't planned on painting the hearth and despite the drops of paint, I still may not paint it. Cause I live on the edge like that-the edge of insanity, that is.

Laundry.

Cause this app even makes laundry look kind of cool.

In case you were wondering these are hubby's shirts. It will be one of the last times his shirts are folded like this cause he leaves for the State Police Academy in a month or so and his shirts have to be rolled in like 6 inch rolls or something insane like that.

Cause apparently it is important for the people who protect your safety to be able to fold their clothes into ridiculously small ways. Finally no spring break, or weekend or any small break in between is complete without attending an auction. I scored a dresser with some really cool details for $15.

Now, don't get too jealous, it is in pretty rough shape. But man it is so neat. I can't wait to show it to you! Isn't that app fun? I think I may make a weekly adventure out of it, because I know you all are dying to see what I do all week long!

Plus it gives me an excuse to take weird pictures and it gives me another way to touch base with you guys! Come back, I have some auction finds to share, my bedroom to reveal and talk about what we are going to do while

hubby is at "the academy where you learn to fold your clothes."

Quick B & A

2011-04-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

I have a booth space-did I ever tell you guys that?

You all know I love auctions and shopping. But there is only so much room in my house.

Plus I love redoing furniture and accessories with paint and paper. By having a booth space it gives me the opportunity to craft to my heart's content and then possibly sell it and make some money.

Now I must be honest, by Dave Ramsey's definition my booth space is just a hobby (i.e. I don't make any money on it). But some months are better than others and it is just fun to redo stuff.

Anyway, here are two little somethings that I whipped out over my spring break.

First up, gold glamour girls:

I taped off the picture portion: Then spray painted a super girly pink: I also decided to tone down the pink with some glaze-plus I wanted to age it a little more like the pictures (or whatever you would call those things). The picture on the left is sans glaze, the one on the right is glazed. Once again before: And the after: Here is the other before and after (it is a little quicker because I don't have as many pictures!)

I had some old pictures in my booth and I thought I would just paint the frames to freshen them up. I thought they were black and white, but there was a light coloring on them and I couldn't decide what color to paint the frames. Plus I didn't really like the pictures anyway. When I took them out to paint the frames it hit me to whip out the frosted glass spray paint. Remember that? No? Well, go read this and this. I threw the pictures away before I could take a picture (that sounded kind of strange) but maybe you get the idea:

I used my Cricut and cut out the letters "home" and then a bird and branch (shocked aren't you). I used contact paper to cut the stencils then stuck them on the glass.

I shook up the spray paint and then went to town (not literally. I always said I never want to live in a place where I have to use the phrase "go to town". Maybe that's just a southern phrase and you guys have no clue what I'm talking about)

ANYWAY... before I digress any farther here is the after:

And a few more shots because it is cute:

This may be one of those things that I will kind of hope won't sell!!

Comment Confessional

2011-04-07T21:50:00.016-05:00

I started a post on my personal stance on comments then I remembered "Mamarazzi" and her Friday confessional. I had a super good time the last time I participated so I decided to enter the booth and confess my little heart out this week:

So here goes:

I confess that I have in the past left comments on "the big blogs" in hopes that maybe they will visit mine and fall in like with me and my ideas. I confess that I am getting over my hopes for 15 minutes of fame and looking more for entertainment and ideas in blogville. I don't join every linky party because frankly I don't have the time or the energy to author posts and take pictures just so someone will come visit me. Image from Home Grooming

I confess that I look through my "dashboard" pretty much everyday at all the blogs I follow. However, if the picture or the super short description doesn't catch my eye I don't bother to go read to whole thing. Image borrowed

I confess that I am a woman a VERY FEW WORDS. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I am not a woman who participates in idle chit chat. Now, I can listen like nobody's business, but I don't go on and on about a multitude of topics. I confess that I only comment on about 8% of the posts I read in a given day. Now, that can vary if I am reading on my phone or on the computer (for basic reasons of the ease of typing). Some blogs I read daily-I'm talking never miss a new post-but I have NEVER commented on them.

I confess that if you get a comment from me it is 99% of the time way more than a "nice job." When I comment on something it really struck a chord with me.

I confess that that last "I confess" sounds like I think I am the Dalai Lama or something. But seriously, if you hear from me on your blog I am totally sincere in whatever I say. And the comment is usually pretty long.

I confess that my attitude on commenting was solidified when I thought about the relationshop between bloggers. When we, as bloggers, write a post it is like having a conversation with someone. If we were having a conversation face-to-face about your latest project I would come up with something more genuine to say than "nice job." I decided that commenting is like a conversation. So, for a woman a few words, I chose where I comment and the things I say very carefully.

I confess that just because I haven't commented on your blog does not mean I am not inspired by you or something you have said or done. I find inspiration daily and am grateful for each of you and the gifts you bring to the cyber-table. Thank you for taking the time and energy to share your life and the things that are important to you. Thank you Mamarazzi for hosting this fun party. I know I don't join in every week, but for me (let's all say it together-a woman of few words) it is hard to say so much every week! Image from yoga and yogurt

All the posters without a link were created by me from the website

www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk.

I'm done now, well one more poster because I can!

Spring Mantle

2011-04-06T22:35:00.009-05:00

I think Beth is a mind reader (or maybe she read my blog-that would be pretty cool)

because she decided to have her seasonal mantle party this week.

Of course that was just the kick in the pants I needed to get my post done.

You all remember I have two mantles, this post is going to be the upstairs mantle.

I'll try to move the laundry and get some pictures of the downstairs mantle tomorrow. This is going to be short and sweet so don't blink!

I used these bunnies on the downstairs mantle last year.

For spring/Easter 2011 I just changed out their bows.

Remember I told you about the woman with the velvet ribbon?

Don't know that story? (it is one of my favorite "scary stories") Click here. Here they are a year ago (and no their heads didn't fall off when I changed the ribbon):

One more 2011 mantle shot:

Here are a few more touches of Easter I have around:

I got the fabu-lo-so idea to twinify some eggs from Domestically Speaking and boy did I do some twining!

The lighter colored egg is from last year. I bought that twine at Dollar Tree. This year I found jute at Hobby Lobby and twined eggs of all sizes.

Beside my little twined lovelies is my other obsession-buttons. That is an egg made out of buttons, by the way.

(Just when you thought I'd run out-bwah hahahaha!)

If you are lost on the joke click here then here then know that I also did Christmas trees but I spared you from that one. Finally, another twiny vignette:

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm going to get another spring post up, I have some before and after things to post and then I have a fun, frivilous post about my spring break using my new favorite toy!

Color Me?

2011-04-06T00:11:00.003-05:00

I have that type of style that my friends can pinpoint. Whenever I am with a group of friends the phrase "that looks like Molly" inevitably gets said. I am usually flattered because the thing they are speaking of actually do look like something I would like.

You all know I am constantly tweaking my house.

My dining room is the most recent evidence of that. I am constantly getting new ideas from magazines and fellow bloggers.

I love the styles of some bloggers out there. They use neutrals to perfection and the photographs are amazing. I've even noticed a style shift in some of them from the use of color to a more subdued style.

These images are from Country Living and there are so many elements that I love in each of these pictures, but I never really thought this style was for me until a fellow blogger said this to me:

"I love that you're not afraid to use color."

I think it was meant as a compliment, but it is a prime example of

"you said, but I heard."

You know you said "I love that you're not afraid to use color," but I heard

"your house looks like a clown house."

It has me rethinking my style and my choices, but really who am I decorating for?

I love to look at houses like the ones above,

but I couldn't see myself living in that kind of house.

I love color.

I have a red couch for crying out loud.

You can't have a red couch and not love some color. It's against the law and hubby is a cop so that wouldn't be good for me to break the law.

So because I'm keeping the couch, I going to continue to use color. I'm too far in to stop now.

By the way, I'm on spring break this week so I'm planning on posting at least two more posts. One small project and my spring decor stuff.

Come back to the clown house, fun awaits!

Going Once, Going Twice...

2011-03-10T21:32:00.014-06:00

If you've been around Toile in the Family for very long, you know how much I love a good auction. Since my recent "blued" dining room, I thought I share with you the things in there that I got from various auctions.
First up, Scarlett.

You've all met her. She's lovely and she was super cheap...$2. Really, that's not a typo. Now when I first met her she looked like she had a rough life in the fields of Tara, but you can read about her transformation here. Now she is as gorgeous as her namesake in her red garb.

Next is something that was a little more expensive. My curio cabinet, but I bought it exactly as you see it now (minus the stuff). It replaced my antique secretary which just didn't fill the long wall like I wanted. The curio was $190. But I think that is a pretty good deal.

On top of the curio is a huge red transferware platter. It was $25. I saw it online (which I will tell you about later) and went to the auction specifically for it.

I use alot of silver in my dining room. I pick up pieces at flea markets and auctions. Recently I got this silver tray and pitcher for about $25 total. I love the tray and the pitcher shined up beautifully!

Finally my favorite auction find(s) are these leaded glass windows.

I saw these online too and went on the prowl for them. I got the skinny one for $12.50 and the gigantic one for $32. I couldn't believe people didn't give me more of a run for my money. I didn't know what I was going to do with them, I just knew I had to have them. I love the big one hanging by the garage door. It always felt like you just "fell" into the room before. Now the window acts as a wall or divider of some kind.

I used to always just look in the paper for auction listings then show up hoping for something great (that was the case with Scarlett). But the discovery of a magical website opened up a whole new world for me. Many of you probably already know about this, but http://www.auctionzip.com/

You enter in a mile radius (I always go for 50 miles because I'm in a small town) then your zip code and wait for the magic!!

For example, here are some things that are going to be at an auction this weekend:

Wouldn't this be amazing painted white and distressed, then recovered with some great fabric??

I don't know what this is, but I love the legs on it!

I'm not sure how big this is, but I can image it holding blankets, pillows, magazines, firewood. The possibilities are endless!

Because I want to share the love, I'm going to link up with Crazy Domestic and share my secret. (Only because I think most of you are not from around here and won't be competition!!)

Go check out what kind of treasures you can find close by!

Cut a Rug?

2011-03-05T17:19:00.004-06:00

I had a great shopping day with an amazing friend. She is one of the few people I can shop with. I can count on one hand the people that I can shop with.

She's one of them.

I don't know what my deal is, but I am totally at ease with her and don't feel guilty leaving her to go on my own-she's prefers it too.

Anyway, big digression.

I found a great rug at TJ Maxx today. I not going to say that peer pressure wasn't involved in my decision to purchase said rug. But now that I have it home, I realized that 8x10 is huge and it doesn't jive as well with my living room as I thought

(plus it is too big, I think).

But all the colors upstairs are the same, so I decided to try it in my dining room. That is where the cut a rug comes in. I decided to take a picture and see which way I like better. You guys can weigh in too. I don't mind honesty, just don't be mean to me :)

Here is the room without said rug:

And here it is with said rug:

You know is it too formal for the rest of the look I have going on in there? I do have about 4 different styles dancing around. Cottage, traditional, whimsical, and vintage but maybe the rug throws it all off. Let me know what you think.

Oh and about the peer pressure. I was pondering the rug as it lay on the table at TJ's, looking at the rugs underneath it when this other woman came up and started manhandling my rug. I didn't say anything, I just tried to inconspicuously look through the rugs all the while keeping my eye on her and listening to her talk it out with her friend. She thought the rug was too light and would show dirt. But then she said,

"Well, I'll think about it. It will still be here."

As soon as she walked away I thought, "no, it won't" and quickly rolled that bad boy up and put it in my cart.

Have I mentioned that I am highly competitive? Well, I am. But she may be right afterall...

It's All In the Details

2011-02-24T19:42:00.014-06:00

I am a big fan of details.
Sometimes I get more engrossed in the details than in the big picture of the room.
In the case of my dining room which I showed you last time,

it WAS visions of the details that drove me to finish the room.

This was the first thing that I got excited about:

Here's what I did.

I found some "flour sack cloths" at Fred's (5 for $5).

I have read on several blogs about the use of freezer paper as a stencil. (I can't credit the blog because several have mentioned it-AND it is even on the package of the freezer paper.) So I just picked out an image of a bird

(yes, yet another bird has found its way into my home!)

and cut it out on my Cricut (using the freezer paper).

I ironed that baby on and painted in the bird.

First let me say that the freezer paper is awesome!!

I tried to use waxed paper on an earlier project-epic fail.

The paper stuck just a little. But freezer paper? It is a dream! Seriously!

Second let me say that some people use fabric paint on projects such as this.

Well, I couldn't find fabric paint or fabric paint medium (the stuff you add to paint to make it work on fabric). I really wanted to finish this so I thought about my "paint" pants.

You know those pants you wear everytime you paint? What? I'm the only one with those kind of pants because I'm the only one who paints things (the same things-like rooms) over and over?

Oh, well go along with me anyway.

My paint pants have little smushes of every single wall color I have ever used-because I always need something handy to wipe my hands on! And the paint has never washed out.

(Ask hubby about the Notre Dame shirt with a SW Latte paint smush across the top-wait, on second thought don't, he's still a little bitter over that one.)

Anyway, after thinking about those pants and because I was too impatient to wait for a trip to Paducah or Clarksville Hobby Lobby, I decided to use my leftover wall color (Wyeth Blue by Benny Moore if you were wondering). Love it!

Then I got to thinking about my two oddball dining room chairs:

Uh, no not those precious parsons chairs. I would never refer to them as "oddballs."
I was actually talking about the two chairs that sit on the walls that don't have the red polka dot upholstery on them.

I decided to pull a Miss Mustard Seed and use a drop cloth to reupholster those oddballs.

First, those (sadly) are not my chairs, they're hers, they're real and they're fabulous! (sorry, channeling Seinfeld).

Second, they are made from drop cloths. Fantastic I know. Go read about it on the link in her name. She's amazing. But wait til you are done here. You might never come back!

Anyway, I was using her chair as an inspiration but then I got lazy and didn't want to make the pleated skirt. Too much thinking. So I just stapled the fabric on.

I was going to do the simple stripes then I saw this "chain-stitch," semi quatrefoil looking design on one of my Cricit cartridges and loved it. Here is a step by step, but it was just like the towels.

Cut out image on the Cricut--using the ever cool freezer paper.

Ironed the stencil onto the already upholstered chair.

Painted using leftover "Scarlett" paint(SW Crabby Apple).

Voila!

And because you haven't seen enough of my dining room---voila!

I'm going to link up with Amanda for the I heart my craft cutter party. Cause I do heart it. Big pink puffy heart it. Maybe even big pink puffy heart it with a arrow through it. and a M.C. loves C.E. (cricut expression) carved in it. Anyway, come over there and get some other ideas for your craft cutter!

I'm also joining in the Dining Room party at Roomspiration.

Next up will be auction finds!

Livin' on Blues Power

2011-02-20T18:35:00.019-06:00

This is my favorite "big" project of 2011. I love how it turned out and the good news is that almost a year later I still love it! That's a big deal for me. As hubby says, I'm easy to please, just hard to keep pleased!

I'm taking this link over to Thrifty Decor Chick for her monthly before and after party. Right now there are like 450 links on it. Wowzers, but I'm going in anyway! Stop by for a minute (or an hour) and see some othe great ideas!

Borrowing from Eric Clapton:
Bet you didn't think I knew how to rock n' roll
Oh, I got the boogie woogie right down in my very soul.
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power!

Man oh man I am in love with some blues.

It all started with a chair:

Then there came a table:

This post could go on forever, but I am just going to show you the pictures of my newly blueified dining room and then later I'll bring you the

"details of the dining room."

Until then, just look at this transformation.
During Christmas:

Now living on blues power:

AAAAACK! I know!! I love it!!!
Just humor me and look at all these angles.

I even "staged" the room (which I NEVER do). It feels so much more like me!

Doesn't Scarlett look lovely next to this blue?

Come back later this week and I'll share with you about my napkins and upholstered chairs. I can also talk about the auction finds I used in this room as well as talk about the wall color!

I'm linking up with the CSI Challenge favorite projects of 2011. And also with Addicted 2 Decorating.

I Confess...

2011-02-10T13:18:00.015-06:00

I'm really not the type to do a blog post just to join a party (that's just too much work!)

But I met Mamarazzi the other day (not IRL) and I have been thinking

confessional thoughts ever since.

My Friday Confession is all centered around this:

I am a teacher and I love my job, but I also have a love/hate relationship with snow days.

I long for those unplanned days in the middle of the week that I get to sleep in and hang out in sweats all day, but after a week of no school my confession is that

I LOATHE SNOW DAYS!!

For many reasons. I am going to tell you most of them.

Reason #1 I loathe snow days:

My house is a disaster. Craft projects and dirty dishes are covering what seems to be every square inch. I can't keep up with these kids!

Reason #2 I loathe snow days:

Snow clothes. Everywhere.

The kids go outside for like 30 seconds, get cold, come inside and make hot chocolate, then want me to help them get dressed again to go back out. Makes me grit my teeth just thinking about it.

Reason #3 I loathe snow days:

For some reason I get very lazy and my bed doesn't get made. An unmade bed sets a bad tone for my day

(I know I sound like a freak, but it does make me feel better to know my bed is made.)

Reason #4 I loathe snow days:

I eat way too much. Snow days do not bring out the best in me!

However, in true love/hate relationship fashion, here are a few things I have accomplished:

Got a room repainted. My house has 13 rooms and I have painted 17 of them-yes a few have been repainted in the 15 months we have lived here.

I have bagged up all these outgrown kids' clothes to take to a friend who has a consignment store!

I got some sewing done.

Also, I have been able to keep this blog a little more updated! Maybe snow days aren't ALL bad. Not that I want another week being homebound with 3 kids and 3 dogs!

I'm off to put something away. again. Then clean up a puddle of melted snow. again. Then go eat another brownie. again. Maybe I still loathe snow days!!

I've Got the Blu-Whoo-Ooo-s.

2011-02-06T17:32:00.012-06:00

Hank Williams, Sr. ain't got nothing on me.

Well, actually it isn't me singing the blues, it's my house.

I won't torture you with listening to his recording while you are reading this post, but only if you promise you'll sing the song in your head.

With a really "old time" country music twang.

It's a requirement. Here I'll help with some phonetic spellings.
Ready?

I've got a feelin' called the the blues, Oh, Lawd
Since my baby said goodbye.

And I don't know what I'll do-oo-oo
All I do is sit and sigh-igh, oh, Lawd

I hate to think it all o-o-ver
I've lost my heart it seems

I've grown so used to you some how
Well, I'm nobody's sugar daddy now

And I'm lo-on-lonesome
I got the Lovesick Blu-ues.

Don't worry about my house.

I'm thinking the blues will be the best thing that's happened to it since buttons.

Y'all come back, I promise I won't make you sing!

Molly :)

The Wild Side

2011-02-06T17:06:00.013-06:00

Let me say I love it when I find out I was ahead of the trends.

Case in point are my birds.

I started a love for birds before I even knew they were popular (pre-blogging).

I didn't know when I painted Annabel's room this bright pink (I thought was azalea)

that it would offer me a chance to enter The CSI Project.

But I'll name it Honeysuckle and join the party!!

Have you ever had visions for a room,

put it together piece by piece then once you were done

realized you created a hot mess?

That's pretty much what happened with daughter #2's room.

I knew I didn't love it.

It was way too busy and way too pink.

Then I published this picture:

Two words: hot. mess.

I had an idea and I had a whim.

So at Target I decided to buck up and spend the $75 on some new bedding.

I made curtains out of really cheap white fabric and added the zebra stripe out of an extra sheet that I purchased. I was going to do a canopy over the bed but I just couldn't see that play out well in my head so I opted for the "artwork."

I had planned put black and white pictures in the frames, but once I hung them on the wall, I kind of liked them blank.

Yes, this artwork is a mixture of some other things you have seen on "Toile in the Family."

It is a little "Ode to A'ish" and I have found yet another way to use some buttons.

(You're hoping I'll run out of those soon aren't you?!)

I love it. You would think the black would be overwhelming, but there is just something about focusing on two colors that makes it much more pleasant to look at.

Let's see the before and after again shall we?

Hot Mess Before:

The AHHHH-After:

I'm joining the million of link ups over at Thrifty Decor Chick for her February Before and After Party. If you have a few minutes, come by and check out some other fun before and afters. I can't guarantee they will all be hot mess transformations, but there are lots of cool ideas over there!

This is another favorite room redo of 2011. I'm linking up with Addicted 2 Decorating. Come see some great room redos!

You can see the other two kids rooms here, just know that I already have some plans for little man's room. Don't go thinking I am discontent. I'm just creative, that's it, creative.

Valentine's Vignette

2011-01-27T21:52:00.001-06:00

Stories of A to Z is having a Valentine Mantle Party but I just wasn't ready to dismantle my wintery mantles (upstairs and down).

Thankfully she allows Valentine vignettes.

Due to an unexpected snow day (I really don't trust the weather people-sorry if any of you are or know a meteorologist) and the fact that I left a ton of stuff I could be doing at school I have gotten a chance to complete some projects and start some more projects.

I used the opportunity I had while the kids were doing this:

and this:

to get a Valentine's foyer welcome ready for any guests.

You guys can be my first.

But first, is that not the cutest snowman?? I was pretty impressed with their creativity.

Here is the foyer hearted up:

If they keep playing outside like this I may have to break out the buttons and make some hearts!

Chalk It Up!

2011-01-26T09:47:00.009-06:00

I told you hubby gave me a decorating closet make-over for Christmas.

I'm going to show you all about it when I think it is at its cutest.

Piece-by-piece.

Step-by-step I'm getting there.

Here is one of those steps.

I am trying to utilize every possible inch of storage in this fairly decent sized closet.

If you are like me, you get ideas in the middle of the night, while stalking your favorite blogs and looking through magazines. Some of those ideas will actually see the light of day but, alas, many get forgotten about.

I also have lists and lists of things to do. Sometimes they get done, sometimes they get shoved into oblivion.

Here is the back of above mentioned closet door.

Perfect spot for something inspirational.

I thought about hanging cork, but I decided that would look really messy (have-to-make-it-cute-itis) and I had a better spot to put the cork for all my magazine inspiration pictures.

Then I remembered my chalkboard paint.

Door taped off.

Those are my front door decorations for spring hanging above. Remember every. possible. inch. Really no rocket science here.

I used a level and drew out a rectangle with just eyeballing for size.

I still have lots of chalkboard paint from this project and this project.

Here's a tip when painting on a vertical surface with this paint.

Use light coats.

I am impatient and thought one thick coat would be better than a bunch of thin ones, but after repainting over runs and drips, I learned my lesson-for now.

Just because this is the back of a door in my decorating closet doesn't mean it has to be utilitarian.

Of course a simple chalkboard rectangle wouldn't be enough for me.

When I was looking for the chalkboard paint in the garage I ran across a quart of Crabby Apple! (from my front door and Scarlett) It was begging for me to take it off the shelf and of course my Cricut was feeling loney and wanted to play so...

I found a branch I liked, used the fancy corner option and put one on each corner of the chalkboard.

Next I broke out the Crabby Apple and brushed it on using an artist's brush.

I waited an excrutiatingly long 5 minutes and removed the stencil.

Then I waited another excruciatingly long 10 minutes and then I added my To Do's and Ideas! Now maybe some of those ideas will actually make it to fruition!

Gotta go get cracking on that list!

Oh, Parson Me!!

2011-01-23T00:01:00.000-06:00

I have always loved parsons chairs.

I cyber-window shop them on Overstock.com and Target.

I look at them in magazines.

But I have never found one that I really, really loved all on its own.

I would usually have to buy/make a slipcover in order for it to be EXACTLY what I wanted. Until...

A few days after Christmas I was walking into TJ Maxx and almost from the front door I spotted them.

My feet almost wouldn't carry me fast enough.

As I was walking toward them I kept telling myself:

"The color won't be right."
"It's impossible that they could be the right color."
"Don't get your hopes up, they will be the wrong color."

Then I got up on them. The color was right. And the pattern would be perfect.

Okay, maybe the color works, but I bet they will be incredibly expensive.

Let's just peek at the price tag.

Don't get your hopes up.

Whoa...really? I could pay that.

So I went home. Chairless.

(sound of screeching brakes. Went home? Chairless?)

Because

#1 I needed to talk with hubby about it.

#2 I REALLY wanted to make sure the color was right.

#3 There wasn't enough room in the car for 2 parsons chairs.

Two days later HUBBY suggested we go to Paducah.

So I told him about the chairs and I grabbed my fabric swatches.

We bought something else on the way, which I will show you later.

Can't reveal ALL my rabbits in one post.
After confirming the blue would blend in my dining room, I hauled those babies up front.

I am pretty sure I saw some jealous faces as I carted those things out.

Aren't they gorgeous? See if you can figure out what else I bought. I'll talk about it next week, promise.

Let Them Eat Cake!!

2011-01-21T08:18:00.012-06:00

And maybe cupcakes...and cookies...and brownies.

I saw this in my local flea market:

and visions of polka dots started dancing in my head.

So I took it home (for $6) and then it sat in my decorating closet for months.
I got inspired and took it to the garage and there it sat...

for a few more weeks.

I still had visions of covering that 1950's metal and cream and orangey flowered mess with lovely blue polka dots. But I wasn't quite sure how to do it.

Until...
Hubby surprised me with #1 a decorating closet makeover (which I will share later).

#2 a Cricut Expression!! Whooo HOO!!!

So after Christmas I finally got inspired enough to get to work. First I spray painted the entire thing blue. (no picture of that, sorry). Then I cut three different sizes of circles (2", 1", and 1/2") out of contact paper and placed them as randomly as possible. (Yes, I use contact paper more often than vinyl.) Then I painted the whole thing red.

Then it sat for a few more days because, well because I was just plain skeered of pulling the circles off. I was afraid it would pull part of the red paint off.

I finally got my nerve up and pulled them off....love it!

Now I just need the cake...or cupcakes...or cookies...or brownies.

This was one of my favorite projects of 2011. I'm linking up with the CSI Challenge. Go visit and see all the great ideas!

Another Mantle

2011-01-15T11:35:00.013-06:00

I showed you the downstairs mantle, today let's go upstairs.

This post is going to be pretty much all photos. I will; however, give you the links to some of the other things I might refer to.

Here are a few close ups (cause I like keeping you in suspense as to how it all comes together).

I showed you all about these button snowflakes here.

>

All the snowflakes and snowballs are actually Christmas ornaments I got on sale at 50-75% off after Christmas and BEFORE the new year and the "resolution."

Which is actually going pretty good. I may even cut my spending budget next month (not follow the "no shopping" rule, just cutting back-or rather giving most of my budgeted spending money to a friend's son who is going on a mission trip over spring break.) But I digress and I promised more pictures than words. Total rule breaker...

You all know of my painting the fireplace dilemma. Now I have a "paint the mantle dilemma." The fireplace seems awfully, well, white. Do you think I should paint the mantle black? Or does someone know how to photoshop so I could see what a black one would look like?

Thanks for stopping by. Thanks to Debbie and her post on comments, I'm going to do a better job on the type of comments I leave as well as responding to the comments I receive. Come back soon-I want to show you something-the clue is "Parson me?"

Stylish? Gee, Thanks!

2011-01-12T21:58:00.003-06:00

Nana Diana offered me my first blogger award! She got my blog name from Debbiedoo. It is kind of like the seven degrees of separation. Anyway, I am thrilled to pieces to have found a new friend and to pass along the love.

It is an award, but there are strings attached.

#1 I have to list seven things about myself. I am more of a self-depricating kind of person, but I'll do my best.

#2 I have to pass along the award to 7 people who have inspired me.

This is going to be the hardest because I have a fear of rejection and I am afraid the people aren't going to want the award frome me. Most of the blogs that I follow have, like, THOUSANDS of followers so I can't help but think some award from me with my 73 followers would be like that annoying person at the movies who won't be quiet.

I have gone through my dashboard and picked out a few "big" names (people that I truly cannot wait to read and have felt some "connection" to) and other newbies who, like me, would appreciate some recognition and not feel so alone in this big ol' blogworld.

First about me:

1. I am the youngest child with 4 brothers. My youngest brother is 9 years older than me and my oldest brother is 18 years older than me. People ask if I was spoiled. I just stick my lip out at them, pout and ask "why would you ask that?"

2. I am older than hubby. Actually, hubby is the same age as my oldest nephew. (refer back to #1 to understand how that is possible)

3. I loathe crickets. BLEEECH! Sometimes we get disgusting spider crickets downstairs. If hubby or little man isn't home, I trap them under a glass until one of them can dispose of it. I refuse to step on it because I can't stand that "crunch" feeling under my feet, plus I'm afraid it will jump on me. Oldest daughter used to call them my "crooked (instead of cricket) zoos."

4. I am a total introvert. In fact, when people usually meet me for the first time,

I intimidate them. I am a woman of few words, but I am also very shy. I have thought about going to "Blissdom 2011" but I'm afraid I would be too much of a wallflower and wouldn't make any friends.

5. People ask how I get myself and 3 kids ready for school each day. Truth is, I don't. Hubby get the kids up then wakes me up. All I have to worry about is getting myself ready.

Spoiled I know, see #1.

6. I am very competitive, but not in the "I'm gonna run a marathon competitive." My competitive side is more subtle and harder to satisfy. I want to be the best at just about everything. I want people to think I am the best teacher, the best decorator, the best swizzle stick maker (I don't really make those, but I think you get the idea).

7. This was extremely hard for me. In fact hubby and I are talking about it right now. He is trying to give me suggestions, but I've already used them or I think they are not "good enough" (see #6--see now I want to be the best blog award receiver!) I wanted to list really "deep" things. I wouldn't be satisified with my favorite flower (hubby's idea) or what his occupation is (another one of his ideas) NOOOOOO I have to be all wordy (so unlike me-woman of few words that I REALLY am-promise, ask him.)

This could get ugly, let's move on the #2 requirement of the award: pay it forward...

The top 4 are blogs that I love and that inspire me daily, the last 3 are some new favs and new friends. I hope you find some things you like!

1. Lemonade Makin' Mama:

I LOVE Sasha. She is so the opposite of me. She is demonstrative and dramatic but she is funny and honest. She has a heart for Christ and is totally in love with her man. (she's only the opposite of me on the dramatic and demostrative part, don't get me wrong here) Go read her, you'll fall in love with her too.

2. The Pennington Point:

She is creative and kind, loving and modest. She has a big family and they all work so well together. She has some amazing advice on raising kids and she is just a neat woman.

3. Nancy's Daily Dish:

She is all about the transferware. I LOVE transferware so I have found a kindred spirit at Nancy's. She has the most amazing collection AND she sells it too! I am already planning on planting her etsy shop site in hubby's hands for the next birthday!

4. The Meanest Mom:

She really isn't mean, she's just plain funny. Oh, and she has a Ph.D! Yeah, I know. I think we are kindred spirits too, at least we have the same sense of humor. I see her being very "straight faced" kind of funny. I think they call it a "dry sense of humor." Anyway, she is another that I can't wait to read.

5. Decorating Tennis Girl:

A girl who can combine sports and decorating-that takes some style! Seriously, she lives in the most adorable house complete with a white picket fence! Too cute!

6. Kensington Cottage:

She hasn't been blogging very long, but she I think she has some staying power. She makes the cutest hair clips-and she has some other mad skills too! Drop by for a visit.

7. DIY by Design:

She has only been blogging for 3 1/2 months and already has 200 followers! Aside from the fact that I'm a little jealous, she won't disappoint on the idea realm.

Thanks for stopping by! I'm going to be posting about the upstairs mantle soon.

Wintery Mantle

2011-01-10T19:00:00.010-06:00

I got all my Christmas stuff down in about 3 days.

It was completely gone by about the 28th of December.

Impressive huh?

Well, truth be told, I had an idea for my winter mantle(s) and I couldn't wait to get them going.

Disclosure: I am an external motivation kind of girl and whenever I need an extra kick in the pants to do something-like clean or redo something-I'll buy something new to encourage me to hurry along the process. Actually that is probably why I am making my 2011 resolution to "be content." I never said I wasn't a work in progress.

Anyway, I found an awesome snowflake for $8 at my fav flea market and an

idea was born.

If you remember, I have two fireplaces in my house.

Today's post is about the downstairs mantle.

I'm just going to give you a parade of pictures with little talking in between.

(I'm getting a little better at shorter posts!)

I got two of these snowflake buckets for 75% off and the little snowflake was 1/2 off.

(Yes, these were bought prior to 2011, prior to my "no shopping" vow of January 2011.)

I used touches of white with my "big-o" finials. You can read about my love of finials here.

Full mantle shots!

I'm linking at The CSI Project.

Come by with some hot chocolate...let it snow!

Resolved

2011-01-02T19:46:00.016-06:00

I love the idea of a fresh start.
A brand new year gives me the perfect opportunity to make some.

While I have several resolutions, the main one I want to discuss is my desire to

practice contentment.

I need to be content in many areas of my life, but I'm going to start with my home and, in essence, my wallet.

I have said many times that I am easy to satisfy, just hard to keep satisfied. When I say it it sounds more comical than true, but I had someone else (besides hubby) say it (about me) the other day and for some reason it really hit hard.

First, let me say that as a decorator, my house will never be "finished."

I enjoy moving things around, freshing up a room with a new piece of furniture that I have thrifted and redone.

In fact, I have decorated my house in stages so while it seems like I am constantly re-doing things, I am actually making due until I can get what I really want for a space. My dining room, which I will be showing later, and my master bedroom are two such examples.

However, I do recognize that I spend much of my "me" time browsing flea markets and local boutiques for things to put in my house.

I don't need more things.

I have a walk-in closet full of accessories as I type. Thus, I decided that I need to practice contentment with what I have already been given.

At least for the month of January, contentment is going to entail NO SHOPPING.

No new pretties, new birds, or new pillows (yikes, I just remembered I wanted to redo my couch pillows...). I already have PLENTY of projects to keep my busy. And all the materials for the projects have already been purchased.

Project #1: Create a canopy for youngest daughter's bedroom.

White and zebra fabric? Check. Rod to hang canopy? Check.

Project #2: Redo this princess table and chairs.

Scrapbook paper for table and fabric for chairs? Check.

Project #3: Organize decorating closet.

New shelves installed? Check. Stuff on shelves to organize? Checkity check check.

Project #4: Creation of a "mom cave."

Space determined? Check. Accessories for said cave? Checkity check. Inspiration? Check.

Project #5: Redo master bedroom.

Fabric for curtains and dustruffle? Check. Paint? No check, I'll have to wait and buy paint in February. But I can go ahead and sew the bedding!

See, I already have enough to do. I should be too busy to shop.

If I feel the need for some "me" time, perhaps I should spend sometime with the

One True God instead of the god of money.

I'm not saying this isn't going to be hard. But I'm going to try for one month. I've already survived 2 days, only 29 more to go!

No Slip Snowflakes

2011-01-01T16:39:00.018-06:00

I am trying something new.

I'm trying to write a post that isn't two miles long.

I have said that I am a woman of few words. I really am.

Ask hubby, or any of my friends.

However, when it comes to blogging I can't seem to do the "s" word. (shut up)

Most of my posts end up being marathons. No wonder I can't do more than 1 post a week.

See, I've already started on the wrong foot. I better get to it.

I found a jar of white buttons at my fav flea market and bought them with the plan of making initial pillows for my girls. I decided that was too much sewing.

Then I got a bag of white, gray and brown buttons from Hoblob

cause I knew I would become obsessed.

When I took down Christmas the other day,

I was thinking about a winter mantle and the idea of silver and snowflakes was born.

You can use scrapbook paper as a base, pick out some buttons of various sizes and just glue them onto the paper. I used regular old Elmer's. I didn't draw out the design for the snowflake cause they are really easy to just create as you go.

Keep adding til you're satisfied and there you go!

I had a ball making these. I may or may not have gone a

little snowflake making crazy.

Some of the them I hot-glued right onto miniature silver trays. A few I put in a picture frame. Yeah, they are all over the house.

I still have buttons left though.

I'm thinking hearts for valentine's...

I'm linking up with The CSI Challenge for the "white challenge."

I was fortunate enough to place in the top ten last week, think I can make it two for two?

P.S. I'll show my full winter mantle in a few days. And I have another dining room reveal

2010 in Review

2010-12-29T21:38:00.014-06:00

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality has lured me into a recap of 2010.
Because I am one to never want to miss out on something, I am joining in on her party!

I have to say it was kind of neat to go back through my posts of 2010 and see all I have accomplished. I picked one for every month. I'll link them back to the original posts, so if you see something you like you can follow it and get more info about it.

Are you ready? Alrighty, here we go!

If you remember, in January I started "Decorating A-Z."

Every week my projects involved a letter of the alphabet. Of course, I proceeded alphabetically.

January 2010: Scarlett

February: Eh, not really anything outstanding, let's move on...

March: Laundry Room

April: Master Bedroom (aka Truvy's Beauty Shop)

May: Nothing earth-shattering. Let's keep moving

June: Lemonade Stand

July: Painting the Fireplace

August: Jenny's Bedroom

September/October: Entertainment Center, Bathroom Organizing

November: Christmas Mantle

I want to say a special "Thank You" to all my followers and faithful readers!

I have a few things in the pipes for 2011. You can rest assured that my

"have-to-make-it-cuteitis" as well as my inability to stay satisfied

will provide more blog fodder in the coming year!

I hope that 2011 proves to be your best year yet! Happy New Year!

"Toile" a Good Night!

2010-12-24T21:27:00.005-06:00

Yes this is a re-do of a post from last year.

Some suey.

(private joke among my SIL and her family, but I'll let you in on it).

One of Sandy's favorite expressions when she got frustrated with her hubby was to say

"So sue me!" Her son, who was about 4 or 5 at the time, got frustrated with his dad one day and said "Some suey, dad!"

Anyway, here is one of my favorite Christmas pictures. My youngest, at the age of 3, watching the "grown-up" kids Christmas program.

May you all take some time to sit in awe of the manger.

Have a wonderful Christmas and be thankful for the ultimate sacrifice.

Come "Clocher"

2010-12-12T09:31:00.010-06:00

Here's my environment as I blog on a wonderful Sunday morning:

Isn't that lovely. What a nice way to spend a Sunday morning. We have a Christmas musical at church today, but hubby and I decided to sleep a little later, relax a little longer and go to the service at 3pm.

But I digress, onto the business of the day.

I'm a few days late, but I'm linking up with Marty at A Stroll Through Life for her cloche party. Ever since I started blogging, I've seen those little glass domes all over blog-land. People make them out of cheese domes, upside down candle holders. All kinds of things.

I love them.

I have 4 cloches on display for Christmas. Let's start with my fav:

This sits on top of my curio cabinet in my dining room (thanks Mrs. Savvy for the help on figuring out what that piece of furniture should be called!) It is my favorite vignette of this season.

Afterall, it does represent the reason for the season!

Next up is a cloche that I stalked at my favorite flea market until it went on sale for 1/2 price:

I love the base on this one. It is like mossy stone.

Here is a tiny cloche that I got at the same flea market (actually the same booth) as the stony cloche above.

I love this guy, so vintagey, so Christmasy, so lover-ly.

Coming up are the cloches that are in my kitchen:

You all know I love me some ornaments. I especially love red and white ornaments. These were perfect to go along with my transferware creamer and white cake plate.

Here is my newest cloche addition. My friend, Jenny, gave this to me for Christmas this year. She makes fun of my bird addiction, but you notice that she is an enabler!

Drop by Marty's for some more ideas of things to go under glass!

Decked Out Dining Room

2010-12-08T11:42:00.024-06:00

Man, this time of year is busy for a blogger!

There are so many parties going on and I want to go to them all!

Sometimes I feel like I'm chasing my tail.

I'm going to try to keep up ya'll just hang in there with me.

Today I am joining in with Savvy Southern Style and All Things Heart and Home today I am sharing with you all my dining room.

Here is how it looked last year:

And here it is one year later:

The past year I have changed out the light fixture, added shelves, hung roman shades and added an old window as a divider.
Let's mosey around the room:
This wall is my silhouette wall.

I have a silhouette of me and each of the kids from the wedding.

To go along with the silhouettes, I simply added white and silver plates, a couple black and white pictures, some greenery and a couple ornaments to dress this area up.

Scarlett sits below the shelves and she gets a little spiffed up for the holidays, but

she doesn't need much help.

I just add an ornament to the silver tray, some pepperberries to a topiary, and another ornament to the lamp. Done.

Moving on around the room, here is my favorite vignette this year.

It sits on top of my china cabinet

(I don't really think it is a china cabinet, but I don't really know what to call it.)

And finally as you walk out of the room here are some hand drawn pictures of my kiddos:

Thanks for stopping by! There are lots more parties coming up, keep checking back!

Little Touches Here and There

2010-12-02T21:59:00.024-06:00

Okay, so maybe little is an understatement.

If you saw my house IRL, you would probably laugh in my face at the "little touches" comment. Honestly, I don't think there is a surface in my house that hasn't been touched by the Ghost of Christmas Decorating.

It's a disease, Have-to-Make-It-Cute-itis. I'm sure there's a twelve step program for people like me. I just haven't looked for it yet. They haven't covered that kind of counseling in my school counseling program, so I just deal with it on my own.

Anyway, there is another party that I'm a-linking up to so I have to share with you all some of my vignettes. Boy, do I have them. Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality is hosting, so come on over and play Tom the Peeper with me and check out some of these ideas.

I have lots and lots, so I am organizing them into categories and I will try not to talk too much. We'll see how that works out for me.

Up first are my vignettes with plates. I love 'em, ya'll know that. So of course they will creep into my holiday home.

I explained here how I got that little plate stuck in the middle of the larger one.

These sweet reindeer I painted using my kiddos' hands to make the antlers.

Next, and largest group, are the vignettes with ornaments.

I know, it is SO original to use ornaments for decorations for Christmas. You are all amazed with my creativity.

But I am totally addicted to ornaments. I could shop for ornaments in the middle of a summer heat wave or the day after Christmas and get equally excited. As a result, I have many.

I have them hanging from the banister:

I have them hanging from lamps:

I pile them into bowls and other containers:

Along with some mercury glass ornaments, I have some ping pong balls that I painted "HO" onto.

I was so excited when I had the idea, I didn't even want to cover the black writing that was on one side of the balls because I would have to wait for paint to dry. I just turned the balls so you couldn't see it!

I also scatter ornaments, and other things, on top of the kitchen cabinets:

I like to think that most of my decorating involves greenery, lights, and stuff that I use most of the time(plus some ornaments here and there) instead of having to change out my entire house when December rolls around.

Here are some ways that I add greenery to put Christmas around:

We're almost done...here are some of my favorites sights around my house.
This is the view on the wall as you go downstairs:

This sits on my kitchen island. I fell in love with that gygo ornament (imagine that) and had a moment of inspiration the other night about where to put it.

You can also see my roman shades in the background that have inspired my new hints of blue.

I went pretty simple on the dining room table. Just a favorite nativity scene and some more greenery, all set on a tray:

Last, but certainly not least, is what I think is my favorite vignette this year. This one sits on top of my china cabinet. While I have more pieces to the Willow Tree nativity set, I just went simple with Joseph, Mary and Jesus and set them under a glass cloche.

I'm also joining up here, come see!

Thanks for stopping by again!

Deck the Mantles...

2010-11-30T20:15:00.007-06:00

The first thing I decorated this year was the mantle.

It seems the easiest for me to do. A little greenery, a little pretty thing or two and Christmas is officially here.

This year's mantle is sorta similar to the one from last year, except with my new blue touches in the house, I decided to go more blue and red instead of green and red. Thus my green square wreath didn't make the cut (on the upstairs mantle at least).

In fact, this mantle went through a couple versions before I finally feel like I got it right.

Allow me to give you the run down...

The garland

This garland is like 15 years old.

Okay, maybe more like 10, but it is in BAD SHAPE. Regardless of the condition, I learned a few years ago to add stuff to the garland to "gussy it up." My favorite thing to add is this light green eucalyptus.

I love the contrast.

There is really no rhyme or reason. I buy a bush or a stem and cut the heck out of it and literally just stuff it in the blank spaces.

Then I add in my red toile ribbon (surely by now you would know (surely by now you would expect to see some toile from me!) Finally I shove in bits of red pepperberries I hacked off a large garland.

Here it is all plumped up and purty:

You can see how I tried to tie in some of the blue from my built in's and roman shades with the plate. But how is that transferware plate just floating on top of it?

Wish you knew? Okay, I'll show you:

Those are Command Strip picture hangers. Basically it is like velcro.

It holds really well. That plate is actually off my dining room wall where they have been hanging like that for a few months.

Along with the mantle, I have a big ol' hearth to accessorize too. Here are some close ups of that area:

Here is a parade of pictures for the upstairs mantle:

This is the view that greets me at the top of the stairs every morning.

It makes me smile. everyday.

Oh, don't go away please. Come downstairs with me. This part of the post won't be as long. Keep in mind I do the same tweaking with the garland here too.

A few lights, a few shoves with some greenery snippets, some glass beads, a little ribbon and there ya go. Fat, fabulous, expensive looking garland.

I did go with traditional red and green downstairs for two reasons. One, it matches and two, I love my polka dot ribbon. (toile and polka dot, my two weaknesses)

I spare you almost all of the wordy details and just show the pics:

Thanks for sticking through such a long post! I'm linking up with Layla and French Country Cottage, so if you REALLY want to be impressed by some decorating skills, come visit the party!

There are lots of Christmas parties coming up and I plan on posting quite a bit throughout this month, so keep checking back!

In case you didn't know, December is the "Month O' Decorating!"

Let the merriment begin!

Month O' Organizing- Dreaded Junk Drawer

2010-11-02T13:37:00.006-05:00

Yes, it's November, and October was my month dedicated to organizing, but technically this project was completed in October, so I'm using it.

So there.

Sorry, been around kids for the past 24 hours, my sass got the best of me.

I have a SUPER island in my kitchen. If you haven't seen it, check it out here.

The bad thing is that it is a super clutter magnet.

It is the first stop when we walk in the door and everything lands there.

I was reading the Nester's 31 days series and she had a post about a "man station."

I thought that was pretty brillant.

So I decided to dedicate my junk drawer

(well, okay a PORTION of it)

to my man for his "station.

Here is the before: This is the drawer that I stuck everything in I didn't know what to do with when we moved in -a year ago- and it has just gotten worse since then.

See that Valentine's dish towel?

The dish towel drawer is RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

Don't ask me why it ended up in there. Well, okay ask me. It is probably because that drawer is too crammed.

I emptied it, purged some stuff, put other stuff away and dedicated each section to certain members of the family.

Here is the after:

The far left is for the kids.

It is the homework, school paperwork section.

I found about a million pencils in this drawer. We can NEVER find a pencil. The far right section is hubby's.

This is all the stuff that ends up on the counter.

Yes, that is a smoke detector.

It was removed the other night when it went off as he was frying bacon.

Yes, I have a degree in Safety and Health as well a certification in School Safety.

I am a prime example of do as I say and not as I do.

The middle section is mine all mine.

That is because most of the clutter that gets on my nerves is mine. It is another disease. It is called the Sprawl-Your-Stuff-All-Over-the-House Disease.

Maybe that medicine in my section will help.

Oh! My organizing spread to the drawer next door and I tackled the dish towel drawer. I didn't get a before (but I'm sure you can imagine if I couldn't squeeze in one more towel), but here is the after-sheer loveliness!

I love dishtowels, can you tell?

I think I am going to extend this organizing month for a little while longer. I have a pantry project to share and I REALLY want to tackle the master closet.

I'm thinking I have another series idea thru all this, remember "Decorating A-Z?"

I may post an explanation about it in a few days, keep coming back!

OH! BTW, I'm sure you noticed that I changed my blog background. I need some feedback from you all to see if you can read it okay. When I pull up my blog on my iphone, I can't read it because the background doesn't pull up (and the font is white). I'm hoping you all are able to read all this. If you don't mind, would a few of you leave me a comment and make sure all is well on your end?

Another BTW, if any of you readers are blog pros, I could use some help reorganizing my blog. Maybe a total revamp? If you have any suggestions or people you know, pass them along!

Month O' Organizing-It's a Party!

2010-10-31T04:00:00.000-05:00

My kids love to have a party.

Any kind of party.

It's Tuesday? Let's have a party!

The dog pooped in the floor? Let's have a party!

My oldest daughter REALLY wanted to have a Christmas party this year, but man, December gets so packed with family and school stuff it is hard to find another day that we can squeeze in another party.

That being said, we decided this year to have a Halloween party.

I'm not all about ghouls and haunted houses and other creepy Halloween things, I just wanted to satisfy my kids and have a good time.

So we handed out some invitations, I gathered up some crafts, thought of a few games, put some snacks out and I think it turned out pretty good.

When the kids arrived, they went into the dining room to decorate some bags for the "Candy Bounce." As soon as everyone got here, I had all the kids go outside and we started the games.

Game #1: Pumpkin Grab
I had about 20 mini pumpkins that we threw in a pile of leaves. The kids each took a turn and had 45 seconds to find as many pumpkins as they could.

I think the most pumpkins found by any one kid was 7.

It was a lot harder than I thought it would be!

After everyone had a turn, I had them all jump in and get all the pumpkins out. The kids had a ball!

Game #2: Candy Bounce
The kids and I blew up 4 bags of balloons and put them on the trampoline.

Then we added about 7 bags of candy.

Hubby got on the trampoline and bounced one kid at a time. They had 20 seconds to grab as much candy as they could. I could have let them go longer, but we ended up giving each kid 2 turns in the candy bouncer.

This was hysterical to watch. The kids had a great time.

After the games, the kids came inside for some craftiness. Of course, I had to make a cute presentation.

It's a sickness.

I'm sure there is some kind of fancy syndrome name for it like

HTMIC-Syndrome. (Have to make it cute).

There were two crafts ( I found them at Joanne's on sale awhile back):

Last but not least was the food.

Since I was entertaining kids from ages 6-10, it wasn't fancy (YooHoo, Bagel Bites, Doritos and Chex Mix) but it was cute! (HTMIC syndrome strikes again)

It was a blast and I think the kids (at least the girls) enjoyed it too!

Have a Happy Halloween!!

Month O' Organizing: Get out the Decorations!

2010-10-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been reading this blog for awhile, you well know that I am coming up on the one year anniversary of moving into this house.

What does that have to do with organizing? Okay it is probably a stretch but last year I couldn't decorate for Halloween much less fall because my life was in boxes and I didn't know where anything was.

Plus it didn't make any sense to decorate our old house since I was just going to have to pack it up.

This year, I was organized enough to actually put out some fall and Halloween decorations and even organize a Halloween party for my kids (which I will share about a little later).

I somewhat like Halloween, but Hubby's birthday is actually on Halloween so I feel like I need to be a little festive for him.

I don't do creepy stuff or gross stuff. We just don't want to celebrate or endorse that aspect of Halloween. If I do something "monstery" it is usually more

cartoon-esque than realistic.

Please don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed seeing pictures of some of the "creepier" decorations and the talent is incredible. It just isn't my style.

That being said, here are some areas in my house and how I have tried to fall and Halloween them up:

This is my foyer.

I don't know if I have shown my new vinyl that I finally put up:

It isn't EXACTLY the version I wanted, but the meaning is the same.

like that people who visit get a sense of who I am right as they walk in the door.

I also just got another vinyl piece from Leen the Graphics Queen and with it she sent me these little bats for FREE!

I thought they were a fun touch to the corner of the mirror.

Next you get a view of my mantle (now a gleaming white)

Here are some close ups:

I found this little owl at a local Flea Market and love him on my newly painted dresser.

Both these things were new additions to my Halloween decorations this year:

I know Frankenstein is a little monstery. But he is cute and not really scary.

The witch I COULD NOT resist. If you can't read the sign she is holding it says

"Forget the witches, beware of kids!"

Those of you who know me IRL know that I love my kids,

but I joke about them much like The Meanest Mom. I think she and I are kindred spirits.

Finally, downstairs where the new BLACK entertainment center lives is this mantle.

Keep checking back, I will show and tell about the Halloween party later!

Bathroom Organizing: Part 2

2010-10-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

I showed you this teaser picture:

No I did not just clean out a drain. Yeah, kind of a gross thought. Sorry.

I wanted to make some labels for my bathroom cabinets. I found some chalkboard vinyl at HomeGoods and snatched it up.
There may or may not have been some snatching out of someone's hand; it's all a blur.
I'll deny it unless I see some video footage.
Just kidding, I don't behave THAT badly.

Anyway, I found a cute stencil at Hobby Lobby (because I am like the only person left on the face of the earth that doesn't have a cricut) and traced out a design.

I wanted a swirly border and someplace to write with chalk markers.
This is what I came up with:

It was ALOT of cutting. I'm not even going to pretend like it wasn't tedious.
The mess in the first picture are all the swirls that I cut out.
I decided to separate the swirls from the rectangles because I wasn't sure how to cut it out otherwise.
Here is the finished product:

This is how they sat for like 3 months before I finally got around to organizing them.
Now that the inside is all spiffed up, I finally labeled them.

I told hubby that I organized the cabinets and he said

"You'll have to tell me where everything is."

I just said "Nope, should be self-explanatory."

I haven't had to tell anyone where anything is (at least stuff in the bathroom) since I've done this!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Month O' Organizing

2010-10-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

September was the dubbed the "Month O' Painting."

October is the Month O' Organizing. I have already gotten some of it accomplished, but I am going to st-r-e-t-c-h the blogging about it as long as possible to get some good blog action from it.

Here are the super exciting posts you get to look forward to:

Bathroom (today's subject)
Kids' rooms
Decorating Closet (that is super scary)
Master Closet
Maybe the pantry

I don't want to get too carried away because I only have the first two items done and there are only two weeks of October left. I don't want to set myself up for failure you know.

Anyway, I think I can get two posts from the bathroom blog. (I have to think about that now because I have really stunk up the whole "keeping up the blog thing" this summer.)

My family has been quick to jump my case about it!

Disclaimer: This post is very embarassing because you are going to see how completely unorganized I have lived for the past year. But I am just going to be real and hopefully you won't go blind looking at the chaos.

I have TONS of storage in my bathroom. It's a little ridiculous really.

But here is how I have treated it thus far:

These are the upper cabinets.

You can see a couple UNUSED lazy susans and a small set of drawers.

Oh and you can also see my youngest daughter's "fake hair." Looks gross just sitting there, but looks pretty cute in her hair.

Except when it falls out in the middle of P.E. class and freaks her friends out!

(Really did happen)

This is the lower bank of cabinets. Pitiful isn't it.

I know. Don't scold me.

I still have one more area to reveal the pitifulness of.

This is the area below the sink. See more containers and drawers.

I totally do it backwards. I like to get the organizing stuff then try to put the junk in it.

It is more fun to find the cute stuff to organize with than to do the

actual organizing!
So I started out by setting the timer for 10 minutes and unloading the cabinets. As I unloaded I divided the junk into categories. You know, pool, guests, towels, bedding, medicine, spa, cleaning, stuff to go somewhere else and of course trash.
Next I wiped the cabinets out then tried to rationally think about where things should go. I had to consider what needed to be gotten at the most and what I needed to store but wouldn't need that often.

I told you all my categories. Here are the loverly afters.

The Upper Cabinets:

The lower cabinets:

Finally under the sink:

My categories were not just arbitrary. In fact, that is what the next post is about. There is a small clue in this blog, but I'm not going to tell. You just have to try to find it, come back and read the next installment and see if you are right.
I'm mean that way!

I'm linking up at Domestically Speaking for an Organization Party. Maybe some of the ideas will encourage you to do some things for those unmentionable areas in your house. They sure make me want to get to the decorating closet!

Month O' Paint Rages On...

2010-10-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

I think this is my last installment for the Month O' Paint.

I have been looking for a chandelier for my dining room for awhile. I

didn't want anything fancy.

Just the typical crooked arm with 5-6 lights that I could put little shades on.
Surprisingly, the Lowe's in my town doesn't like that style.

They want me to go with something super fancy and super expensive.

However, they did finally get one in that was just what I was looking for.

It was about $150.

I was willing to buck up and pay that.

That is, until I went to a yard sale one day:

Total country, but it had the bones I was looking for.

Plus I got it for $30!!

I simply taped off all the electrical parts and sprayed it black with a little Oil Rubbed Bronze on top.

After I ripped the red leather trim (yes it was leather strips like shoelaces) off the shades, it is perfect in my dining room!

Seriously. Does it look like a $30 country-fied fixture to you??

Have you noticed that I love the word seriously? I bet if you go back and read all my posts from the past year you could find one in every one.

It just makes me want to break out in "Isn't She Lovely."

Sing with me...

Isn't she lovely. Isn't she wonderful.

Okay, that's all the words I know. Sing amongst yourselves.

Project from My Month 'O Paint

2010-10-20T09:00:00.005-05:00

I finally got the entertainment center done.

Here is another paint project that I tackled in September.

I had a lovely little dresser that I got for a song about a thousand years ago.

It has been brown forever, but in our new house, it just didn't work for me anymore.

What? You don't see it?

Right there in the white circle. Yeah, I know, you can only see a tiny little corner.

That is the best before shot I could find. You all are creative people.
You'll have to use your imagination for the rest.

Now, before you get all "dont paint antiques" on me. Remember, I am no lover of wood. Sorry. It's just me.

I decided to go white because, like my oldest daughter says, I only paint stuff black or white. She thinks I'm boring that way.

After I painted it, I gave it some glazing love and now I think it is just fab!!

Seriously. Isn't it great.

I did paint the hardward oil rubbed bronze.

I just love it.

I love that the things I put on it don't get lost in a sea of brown.

One more angle. Here you can see the glaze on it.

I've got more posts coming! Come back anytime!

Oooooh the Excitement!!

2010-10-16T14:44:00.007-05:00

OMG!!
I am so excited to be blogging! You have no idea!
My laptop has been on the fritz, my schedule has been insane and my house has been a disaster.

But thanks to a week long fall break, I have some time to sit, share and talk with you guys!
I have so much to tell that I am probably going to have a hard time. My attention will be all over the place.
I think it is ADD, but I don't really know for sure. I sure as heck don't want to offend anyone with DIAGNOSED ADD, but I just know when I have alot to do, or not even alot to do, I tend to jump from project to project and I am constantly forgetting what I was doing or where I put stuff.
But hey maybe it is just that 40 is approaching. I'll call it ADD though, not age.

By the way, my "s" key is acting temperamental so if something looks weird, add an "s" to it.

Here we go.......

If you remember from my last post, September was the "Month of Paint." My main victim was the entertainment center that I have whined about for at least a year now...
no I DO NOT have my Christmas tree up, that is from last year.

I finally opted for black.
It looks SO much better. I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and got it done!!
I love these knobs. I am all about some polka dots.

Here she is in all her ebony glory.
I love coming downstairs to this view.

I just found another before shot. So here is another before and after:

Thanks for coming back! My laptop only has 45 minutes left on the battery so I have to get busy writing some more posts!!

And the List Goes On...

2010-09-11T21:28:00.009-05:00

I'm not even going to try to apologize.
It's really too late for that.
It's kind of like when you meet someone and don't really catch her name then you find yourself around that person quite alot but you still haven't caught her name.
There just comes a point when you CAN'T ask her. You're supposed to know it.
Maybe that only happens to me.

That's how I feel about now.

Oh I've got excuses for not posting. They are pretty good too.
But I'm going to spare you all the details of my life.
You guys are busy too.

I don't have a complete project to share with you all. So what I am going to do is show you lots of my before pictures so you can see what I have in the pipes for the fall.

First up is Jenny.
That post I did almost 2 months ago (yes, my most recent post...) was where I did her bedroom. Now I helped her with her living room. Using her, I am going to bring you the "Evolution of a Bookshelf."

Next up is a small card table that has seen its better days.
Plus my girls are starting to outgrown the Disney princess theme (sniff)

I've been looking for a new chandelier for my dining room. I bought this one at a yard sale for $30:

I've FINALLY made a decision about my entertainment center. You'll just have to wait and see the result. (I do plan on starting it tomorrow.
So hopefully you won't have to wait until Juvember to see it)

I have dubbed September the month of paint
(painting my entertainment center and a dresser in my living room-which was completed tonight.)
October is going to be the month of organizing.
Here are some sneak peaks:

Mmmm, wonder what that is. You'll just have to wait and see.

I am also planning to reorganize my decorating closet. I thought I had a before pic of that, but I can't find it. Oh well, you'll just have to wait and see on that too.

That's all I've got. I'll talk with you all again soon...good Lord willing the creek don't rise.