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Sunday, March 31, 2013

He is Risen!

Today is a day we rejoice and sing praises to the Lord! He is Risen..... Hallelujah!

Here is wishing you and your family peace and joy this Easter Day!


Thank you for being part of my blog!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Turquoise Bench

I came across this bench awhile ago. It is hand made but so dark. There was a nice design to it, so it intrigued me. I thought it would be something different to paint. It is so solid and heavy.



Of course the finish was a little rough so I just let it work for me. Now to find a bright cheery color.

 I decided on Turquoise.

 I just dry brushed this one. I let that roughness shine through. I sanded the ugly brown paint in some areas then dry brushed the others.


Now the finish looks worn off in some areas. The bright color just makes it pop!



So it is a new look for the bench. I can just imagine potted flowers all around it with some really pretty pillows. But....

I will just have to imagine because it is another piece that is for sale! I don't mind because I love being a part of it and letting it go for someone to enjoy!


I would love if you would follow me on my journey!


                                             linking at 125x125

Monday, March 25, 2013

Rabbit Pillow

One Easter my kids were determined to catch the Easter Bunny.

At that time, my son was into maps and building things. He sat down and sketched different ideas out on paper to figure out how he would do it.

That week my son and daughter built a cardboard box contraption! He raised it up and leaned it on a stick with a string attached. They were so excited to catch him.

That year the Easter bunny got away but left them with a big stuffed rabbit and a note saying better luck next time!

Seems the Easter bunny has a sense of humor!

The next year they did the same and the Easter bunny left them a real rabbit!!

The loved him!

It got me thinking that I wanted to paint a rabbit. Not just any painting.....I decided to paint a pillow.



It is nice to paint. I never get tired of all the ways I can add it to my decor. Hand painting a pillow is great because I know no one has it. It is an original!

I took these pictures at night. I don't like doing that but the sun left before I could snap the pictures.

The was something I wanted to do. I wanted to put it in the sun room. You see when I sit in there I am surrounded by bunnies. Real bunnies hopping everywhere!

I wrote about it when I made my delicious Easter Cocoa Nests.

I look out of the window and watch them every spring and into summer.

I

It is more fitting sitting on the sofa.

It is great to decorate for Easter but I think this pillow can be used anytime.

Maybe I should offer him a pinecone carrot!

I think painting more pillows may be in my future!



What do you think? Giveaway going on at my facebook page!


I would love for you to follow me! Click below or on the side where you see the follow button!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Blue, Grey and White Dresser

One of the things I love to do is play with paint. I guess that's no surprise if you have read my blog for awhile.

When you have painted as much furniture as I, you get tired of the same old thing. That is when creativity strikes! Another thing you may know about me is I like changing things up. Sometimes I hand- paint furniture, like my Audrey Hepburn dresser, and other times I may write on a piece as you may have seen on my Black French Hutch.
My favorite thing is blending paint colors, like what I did recently with my French Farmhouse Hutch.
This project was playing with paint again. The Blue, Grey and White Dresser had so many wonderful details.

Look at this carving on the top.........gorgeous!


My layering technique gives it a very aged patina. The detailing on the dresser allowed me to highlight certain areas with color.


Love the legs on this too. All the layers of colors and the waxes make this even more distressed and gives it dimension.

That is why I love Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan. Aubusson, Pure White and French Linen was used to achieve this look


All the original hardware was left because it is beautiful. It added to the character of the piece.

I've liked playing with paint ever since I was a little girl. There is something so peaceful about applying paint with my brush in hand. I guess that's why I like painting furniture so much because I am creating a piece of art.


And when you get to create something you never did before it is even more of an accomplishment.
Love how the manipulation of the paint gave it this effect. 

It could have been the beautiful sun shining through the windows today but I was inspired.

Happy Spring!

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

How to Silk Tie Dye Easter Eggs

It is officially spring! And this is a great project to bring in the season!

This has to be one of my favorite projects. I always wanted to do something with neckties from Goodwill because they are so cheap but silk tie dyed Easter eggs never crossed my mind. The patterns are beautiful! This project really surprised me. Never thought I could achieve this look with a tie.
As promised I have broken the project down in steps for you to achieve the look.

You will need:
eggs

100% silk Ties (Thrift stores sell them for .99) (make sure they are 100%silk!)
find various patterns and colors for Easter

Rubber bands or twist ties

White vinegar

Water

Pot


Go shopping at thrift stores and find 100% silk ties in various colors and patterns. Make sure you read the tag and it confirms 100%silk. That how this works!


Cut apart stitching on tie so you have a flat piece of silk. Make sure you cut a square piece that will fit around the egg.


After you wrap your egg tightly use a rubber band or twisty tie to secure the fabric.
NOTE: After doing these I learned the fabric has to touch the egg to transfer dye. So if there is a crease white will show through. This can be a cool effect if you want!


Now cover those eggs with a white sheet over the silk and tie off again. I used the white lining of the ties....no waste here!

Boil water with a 1/4 cup of vinegar and place covered eggs in pot (don't stack) for 20 min.

Remove and cool.

Then take off fabric to reveal beautifully dyed eggs!

To see all of mine click HERE!


What do you think? Will you try these this Easter?





I was featured on Fun Family Crafts

Monday, March 18, 2013

Silk Tie Easter Eggs

When I was a little girl, my favorite thing to do at Easter was color eggs with my sister.
Even then I would try to create something unique by drawing with markers, my own design.

We would sit for hours thinking about how "cool" the next one would be.

Last week she said I have an idea for decorating Easter eggs this year

and she handed me some directions to look at

these are going to be so "cool" to do! You should do them and put them on your blog



She was my inspiration for this creation


A more mature look than our scribbled designs of our youth



with patterns of whimsy and bursting colors




Funny.....we never cared about cracking them open and eating them.

....we never hid them to hunt later

....we did them to ewww and ahhhhh over

whether it was markers, food coloring, stickers or mod podge in later years, we wanted to be in awe of what we created

we were proud of our little eggs

I was blessed to have my sister to make things with. Someone to understand me. No judging, no competing, just cheering each other on.

And then we built our Easter display for all to see



Aren't they so "cool" and colorful?

of course I will give you the tutorial.......




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