Pin it Up

**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...

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...

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

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!

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

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"

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."