All of this in One year

I have been working on this post for two days and blogger keeps messing me up by deleting my content! I guess I can use this as the most frustrating thing in 2011 lol!

I cannot believe this year is coming to a close. It was a year that began with a lot of ideas of things that I wanted to do. Never did I realize that this blog was going to direct my vision.

I just wanted to share some of the amazing moments this year.

My favorite furniture project was my Audrey Hepburn Dresser I got to combine my love of art with my painting furniture!

Your favorite furniture project was my french piano bench!

 My favorite and most exciting thing was a redo with The Lettered Cottage for their HGTV Pilot shoot!

I met so many amazing bloggers this year and became very close to some that I have not even met!

Your all-time favorite project was my Utensil Drawer Organizer! It still cracks me up since it is made from paint sticks!

 My favorite craft project was my Ticket Sign! It led to me opening up an Etsy Shop!

This is a Golden Ticket but the most popular is the original one in my Etsy Shop!

You favorite craft project was my Dessert Tray Chandelier!

 

Last but not least one of the most exciting things was getting to showcase all my furniture and artwork in a store! La Vie En Rose Cottage in Nashville Tennessee!

I couldn't have done any of these things without all of you so thank you so much! For more exciting posts stay a while and take the journey with me by following me into the next year!~

Hugs, Deneen

Linking to

The day after Christmas

For most the day after Christmas is a shopping day. A day for sales of returns of unwanted Christmas gifts. Some are still visiting family and celebrating their time off.

For me it is bitter sweet....

A day that most have forgotten about but still is clear in my mind and heart. You see 20 years ago I lost a baby in a miscarriage. It was a horrible time for me. Every year at this time I feel I need to do something to remember it. Although I want to forget it. It is confusing. I feel like if I don't do something the baby will be forgotten and I don't want that to happen.

For years I used to light a special candle and say a prayer. Then it was just the prayer. Now I can pray and tell my story.

It all started 20 years ago with the excitement of finding out I was pregnant. I had a little boy that was 4 and this was going to add to our family...a blessing. I decided it would be a surprise to everyone including my husband. After all it was Christmas. I found the cutest little sock baby at a craft fair. That was wrapped and put in my husbands stocking, a bonnet for my parents and a pair of pink booties for his. A gift that no one would see coming. A special surprise.

Christmas day that year turned out much different. I started spotting and the doctor said I could be losing the baby. I had to tell everyone. The wonderful surprise did not turn out as planned.
The next day I lost my sweet baby. It's due date was supposed to be July 24th.....

I just wanted to die myself. I had people tell me it was best. That it was Gods way of taking it because it was to weak. Yes I heard it all and none of it was comforting. I even had friends not call me because they didn't know what to say. Please don't ever do that to someone. Just be there for them and listen that is all they want. Don't try to make them feel better because no one can.

Only time can heal...and prayers.

You see I thought I was loosing my mind. How could I have a beautiful healthy boy and then loose a baby? I tried to get pregnant again. I obsessed with it. And just when I didn't think it would ever happen....

 I found out I was pregnant again!

My beautiful baby girl was born! The day was July 25th...ironic huh?

My children are such a blessing to me and I celebrate my gift often. From time to time I think of my little angel. My son, at 4, told me that God needed another little angel in heaven. How come children know just what to say sometimes?

So on this day a get a little teared up. Yes even after all these years, because you are a mother as soon as you know there is life. You are a mother even when it is gone. The bond is there no matter what.
I am blessed to have two beautiful and talented children.

I am grateful to God for angels too......

I know this is not my typical post so thanks for putting up with me.

Thank you for letting me share my story.

So This Is Christmas

I wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope you had a great celebration. Never forget the reason for the season!

"....for unto us a CHILD is born!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is very special to my family. Years ago my mom and dad started a tradition that we all still keep today. As many Italians do, we eat a huge fish dinner with a pasta bar with different sauces Our family gathers to eat and celebrate.

This is the night we all exchange gifts with each other. We did this so on Christmas Day we could be with our own families. Our children didn't have to be torn away from their gifts on Christmas Day. The kids are grown now but we still do the same thing and look forward to it.

We have a new addition this year. When my sister married, she also got a son to share her life with. So we are back to having a young one around at Christmas.

We also have a new furry little guy.

So tonight we will eat, laugh, smile, breathe and thank God for the many blessings in our lives. We will put out cookies and milk out for Santa and we will celebrate the real meaning of Christmas...the birth of our savior.


May this holiday and all the year through carry blessings for all of you and your families.

Thank you for being a part of my life!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Paris Grey Buffet {Christmas}

Back in the summer I purchased an old dresser. You know the kind, someone's redo project. The one that doesn't quite look like what they thought it would. So I got lucky.

The problem.....so very heavy.

I actually bout it for the store but when I got it in the house I said "This sucker is staying here!" I just couldn't see lifting it again. It my just go with the house if I ever sell it lol!

 

The one thing I loved was the carved details. The rest of it had to go! Especially those knobs!

My big plan was to have it all done for Thanksgiving.....yeah well you know how my last few months have been. So out came the tablecloth and I covered it up. Don't judge me!!!lol

Then one night I couldn't stand it any longer. Out came the grey paint and crystal knobs!

So I got a little paint on the floor. That's an easy clean up. There was no way I was gonna move this sucker again! It fits perfect there and goes well with my Christmas Decor! Love the before and after! Especially the after!

 What you don't see is that it still has to be waxed! Hee Hee! Gotta love the blogs! Things usually aren't what they seem!

I can't wait to put all the homemade cookies on top of it! .........If I get them baked!

We Are Having Guests!

Design Shuffle had asked me if they can do a guest post and I am pleased to have them here. I thought this post would be of interest of my readers. I hope you enjoy it!


Hello, I’m Joanna, a writer for Design Shuffle, a terrific online portal for interior designers to share their portfolios. My days are spent gathering the most beautiful images from around the web and sharing them with readers of blogs like Dreaming in Color. Today's post showcases eight painted pieces that would work well in the bedroom. Painted tables and chests in fun hues are a favorite of ours. From a formal pink bombe chest to a graphic inspired table, these furnishings inspire many of our own. Take a look at some of our favorite bedside painted tables and chests. Thanks for letting me share!

An ornately carved chest is just as perfect in this hall as it would be beside a bed. The whimsical blue hue offers a dreamy ambiance that will enrich any room it is placed in. The beautiful color of this otherwise traditionally designed chest is visually intriguing, and it glimmers with uniqueness. Pair the chest with a totally different piece, like a round skirted table, on the other side of the bed for a lovely romantic look.

A retro chest gets striped with colors from the rainbow. The bold shades really give this piece some personality and will liven the entire room. This would be adorable as a focal point beside an all white bed.

A simple-lined chest gets a facelift with an olive green shade and bright white pulls. It adds just enough color to the room without being overpowering.

What’s not to love about this daring pink bombe chest? It’s so very feminine and French.  Dressing this traditional piece in a bright pink shade really enhances and updates its appearance. The slightly distressed paint job gives this piece a splash of charming character. Whether it is placed in a bedroom or living room this remarkable piece will shine with style!

A tiny pedestal table finds the perfect spot flanked by a twin bed on either side. The lack of color really highlights the wonderful simplicity of this piece. Its small frame and soft white shade makes it appear both delicate and humble.

A black painted bar cart makes a perfect bedside table. Although the color is not bold and bright, its the uniqueness of this piece that really makes it stand out. This bedside table is not only interesting and different, but it provides a space for you to display your treasures.

A fun variation on the bedside chest, this painted black one rocks a contemporary bedroom design. The dominate dark shade paired with the honey colored pattern and golden handles make a remarkable contrast.

The fun and bright tangerine color is calmed by the creamy hues. The radiant shades and amusing pattern create a jovial and playful atmosphere. By far the most interesting piece included in today's post, this little bombe chest would look lovely in a kid’s room or nursery.

Follow Dreaming in Color by pressing the follow button above for more painted furniture inspiration!

Thanks for visiting!

Christmas Tree Story

Christmas for me is all about celebrating the birth of Christ and keeping with traditions of the holiday.  Our family has many different things we do that make it special for us.

I don't buy a real tree although I love them. It just has always been easier to have the fake one. I grew up with that and I guess it stayed with me. When my husband and I got married our tree was lacking in the ornament department. I remember gathering pine cones and pine boughs to decorate the house with. I made my ornaments out of napkin rings that year, that I found for almost nothing. Funny I have been making things out of "nothing" for years!

As we made a life for ourselves, we also made our own traditions. We started creating our Christmas tree to tell "our" story.

We started buying ornaments that related to what and where we've been. Some were made too. I started with this one that I made when I was a little girl.

 

Then the babies came

 

 

As they grew so did our tree. It started to represent them and their acheivements.

College ornament

 All the Broadway shows my daughter has seen

The instruments and music my son played

Vacations and places that we visited.

Even our pets that we have and some that are no longer with us.

 

Our Story......

So every year as I unwrap the ornaments for our tree, I relive the memories of us!

So my tree isn't the latest fad or a Pottery Barn look alike.

My tree is the continuing story of our lives and the changes the occurred in our history.

It is the most cherished Christmas decoration in our home. It is wrapped up with all the emotions of the season.

I share this with you!

Merry Christmas!

Bonne Nuit

I lucked up on a cute little piece of furniture. It wasn't that cute when I first got it but as usual it had a certain appeal.

I new I could try to transform it into something a lot better than the "before".

 

It was beige in color and boring. So I began to paint it in black. I called it a bench/magazine thingy. That was the technical term lol!

This time I found some really cute stencils at Hobby Lobby and with some old white I stenciled the front of the piece.

 

Then I stenciled the front of the magazine holders or sides of it.

 

This is it with the paint still wet.

I felt like it still needed something so I hand painted Bonne Nuit to the top.

 

I heavily distressed it and let the beige color come through.

 

Now it was an interesting piece to put in the store.  

It sold a couple of days later!

Christmas shopping today! NO I haven't finished yet!!!

Fluer De Les

On of the newest members of La Vie en Rose is a cute little double round table I found.

 It is a little bit chunky but I think it has potential. The sides are the perfect canvas for something special.

I decided to paint it a two-tone look of charcoal and grey.

 Then I painted fluer de les on the squares with a stencil and lightly distressed it.

 I think it is something different. I get tired of just painting a piece of furniture. Now I have another sweet thing to put in the store.

What do you think?

I am waiting for my fridge to be delivered as I type. I cannot wait! I have been waiting since Thanksgiving. Thank God I had one in the garage to help me out!

Have a wonderful day!

Winner of the WISH sign

Crazy days as usual. I can't seem to get ahead of the game. what makes today so different than any other day?

I have picked a winner of my sign......

BeeHappy! congratulations and thank you for being a faithful follower. Please email me within 48 hours to claim your prize!

Christmas Table Decor

One of my favorite things is setting up the holiday table. A place for family to gather to eat, pray, and laugh! I like to continue the sparkle of the holiday throughout each room. This room gets silver and crystal. Of course for a photo you don't get to see the beauty of the sparkle. So you have to imagine it!

I made the napkin rings by gluing ornaments to old rings. I went with a snowflake motif to match the dishes.

The teacups are crystal and I may add names to the snowflakes for place settings.

Even the light fixture gets some bling! I am still in search for my crystals that dangle from each candle. I am afraid I used it in a craft project!!! Whoops!

 

My chairs are covered with pillowcases. Yep you heard right. It is so simple to just pull them over the top of the chair and embellish it with a bow. This can be done in many colors to change up the look. It is better to me than sewing or buying a slipcover.

 

I add a silver and white bow with crystals dangling from the centers. I only cover two of the chairs so it is not so matchy, matchy.

 

I will probably add a few more details to it but you get the gist.

 

 

Now we are ready for a wonderful Christmas Dinner! Italian of course!

Just a few more days to enter the Giveaway for a WISH sign!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!!!

What a wonderful gift for Christmas! Good Luck!