My Weblog

Choosing paint colors...

 
The dreaded task of choosing new paint colors for our interior walls has come to visit me. I've saved notes, collected paint swatches for some time but the perfect shade of a deeper, richer taupe/brown/neutral is eluding me. Either too much of a pink hue, or too much green, or not dark enough, or....

And, no! None of the colors found on the ends of my old mill spools are in the running...I just love the looks of them all gathered together as they currently sit in my art room. I'm removing the vintage trims I had wound around them because I've come up with a different storage solution for those...more on that in another post.

 
One thing's for sure though...I'm going to need to repaint! Scattered throughout the house are swatches of paint colors I've slathered on the walls in gobs of places. I'm liking this color up close (and how it appears in the photo)...but from far away (and in real life), in addition to the combo of our high ceilings and lots of windows, it gets washed out. Just doesn't add the warmth I'm looking for... 

 
As and added bonus, I was lucky enough to have the oldest son spend some time sanding down our breakfast table chairs. Or chair. Several hours later, one done, five more to go.

 Take a peek at the chewed up rung on the chair to the right. "Puppy love"...woof woof! Since Sophie {our doggie} is almost two, and has "matured" beyond the I-must-eat-only-the-good-furniture stage, I think it's now safe to repair or replace the pieces upon which she's placed her chewing signature.

  Yes indeed, time to step it up from the beaver chewed look to something more along the lines of this...

 

 The corner cabinet in the photo is a recent nab at a steal of a price from a dealer at the Scott Antique Market that comes to Atlanta once a month.

 
A shot of the top of the cabinet...isn't the detailing wonderful?

Even hubby loved the painted look and the warmth that it oozes... so much so, that he is trying to convince me to have our {GULP} cherry kitchen cabinets painted out as well... 
What a job though...not one I'd tackle myself. I would hire it out. What do you think? Would you?! On one hand, it seems horrible to paint over cherry wood...on the other hand, as my DH answered that question..."Happiness is worth a lot too..."

He's got a point. Sort of. Happiness may not be the right word. But still....I think we'll sit tight for the time being and when all is finished with the other phases of this redecorating project, we'll take another look at it. In other words....mull it over. After all, I'm an expert at that activity!

French Laundry

Mull-er. I am one. On big decisions--or big to me--I mull. and mull. and mull some more.

Drives me crazy. Really crazy.

Finally. I made the decision. I know the direction I think am heading with respect to redecorating. More neutrals, a softer palette of colors...

There's been this bedding. I've drooled over it. Even lusted over it. Each time I ask what he thinks, the Mister says "do it"....but still, I mull some more. and more. and more. Then I receive an email. For two days, and two days only it will be on sale for 25% off and free shipping.

That's it. That's the incentive I needed to hit "buy"...

 

So on Saturday morning I meticulously study my notes carefully adding each item to my cart. Then with the biggest grin, I type in the secret code to receive the 25% off and free shipping deal.

Error code. The code you have selected is either typed incorrectly or has expired.

Silly me. I incorrectly typed it. Recheck my email. Type it again.

Error code again. OH NO! Has it expired? Recheck my email. Yes. It expired....like 8 hours ago. Eight hours. How did I let this happen?

I'm sick about it. Sick. Sick. Sick. But I'm still determined. I want it. And I want it for 25% off and free shipping. Period.

 
sigh. bigger sigh. even more sighing. Besides, I even have the bestest vintage phone I found that will look so cool sitting next to this bedding on the night chest. It even came with the monogrammed "S" in the center dial...that's the right initial not only for my first name, but our last name. And it came from France too...not to mention this bedding is from a line called French Laundry.

Come on. These are no coincidences! This was meant to be...

Hey wait. What if I call this company and beg? Politely of course.

Uh, huh. Great idea...so that's just what I did. And guess what? My order has been placed and I am receiving the 25% off and free shipping. Oh happy day!

Several of the pieces I wanted are on back order for two months. But hey...I've mulled for months and months and months over this purchase...what's a few more?

Morals of the story/Lessons Learned:

*Where there's a will there is a way?

**When the first person who takes your call says "no" emphatically, ask to speak to a supevisor.

***When they put you on hold forever and then come back and say that all the supevisors are still busy, say you'll be happy to hold for as long as it takes.

****Remind them that you've been a good customer through the years. The economy is rotten and you will be buying new bedding, it's just a question of will it be from them {at the expired promotional rate}? Or from a competitor?  

I sure hope I like this as much in person as I do in the photos. Whenever I splurge on something nicer, I force myself to keep it for a long, long, long time. Our last bedding, also purchased from this same company is now at least 12 years old and looks brand new.

 
Guess who else will look wonderful in this new bedroom decorating theme?

Are you feeling the love? I am...

Buying time... {Mentionable Giveaways & Free Image}

...does anybody know where I can buy more time?

Oh, if only it were that easy. No doubt the line would be long and the scuffles in the store would make for some great comedy show episodes.

Well, sometimes TIME is for sale...and these are two of my most recent "time" purchases. I found them both at the Scott Antique Market this month. 

And speaking of good finds...

Look what I dragged home from an antique store. It's not antique...and it's not in any color {lemon yellow} that matches my decor...but look at all those yummy curves, details, and frenchy-style to this piece. And the best parts? It is in mint, like-new condition...a high end piece of furniture with a low end price tag on it. Pennies on the dollar for what it originally cost...my kind of deal.

Love the hardware...a creamy white distressed finish...Which is exactly the type of paint job that will eventually be given to this piece...............

I think I mentioned that we are going to "re-fluff" the nest a bit. Partly because it needs some updating and also to FINALLY repair/replace furniture that our 22 month old Lab chewed to pieces during her puppy months. GRRRRRR....

Not sure if I'll tackle this one myself or pay someone to do it. Time will tell...

And while we are on the topic of TIME, there's still time to enter these two wonderful giveaways by two darling bloggers. 

Patty at THE MAGPIE'S NEST is a Virginia cutie-pie who is celebrating having posted in excess of one thousand two hundred posts..........whew. That girl has her fingers in every sort of artful adventure known to man and has such a creative spirit! {and a sweetheart of a person to boot!} She's offering up three of her beautiful wool felted heart pendants. Click here to enter the drawing! I've thoroughly enjoyed having met Patty through blogging many months ago.

Linda at Linda Jo's Obsessions is a Texas cutie-pie who is celebrating 500 posts! As we all know, everything is bigger in Texas so she's stretching her party over five days. Each day this week she'll be showcasing yet another giveaway! So far there's a copy of Tracie Lynn Huskamp's beautiful book NATURE INSPIRED, a darling little embellished notepad and a gorgeous lace heart. I've recently become familiar with Linda Jo's blog and she has the most deeee-lightful sense of humor and has lots of artsy adventures going on as well.

Go visit both for the prizes but stay for the inspiration....

Here's a photo of my large clock face I'll share with those of you who collect old images for your artwork. Please feel free to save it to your computer for your own personal use. This girl was way too big for the scanner bed...

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen all at once.  ~Albert Einstein {What? My life feels like living proof that it can all happen at once...I see you nodding your head in agreement!}

Xo, Sue 

 Credits: Textured onlays from Kim Klassen's collection
 

Smile Big!

I am! I am! Such a simple gesture but oh, such a delightful way to spend your time. I'm guessing you've heard that smiling, from a physiological standpoint is much easier to do than frowning. Here's some other interesting facts on smiling for all you Cliff Clavin types who love to collect trivia... 

Wandering back to why I'm smiling...

I was forced {{{aw shucks!}}} to head to the monthly flea market held here in Atlanta (Scott Antique Market). A couple of darling antique dealers from Florida who do the show were bringing up some items I purchased while vacationing in their neck of the woods last month.

Big smile when I finally pulled into the lot and began taking in all the fabulous junk. 

No...these chairs aren't my items. But if the pair of chairs with the caning on the side had not been sold I would have been sorely tempted to make them mine. But I did buy several of their screen printed images for future projects.

And I'm still kicking myself for not having grabbed the pair of doors second from the left.

 We {that would be me, myself, and I} are in the beginning throngs of taking on some major redecorating and finishing a big chunk of our lower level. Hubby likes to tease that he's given me an unlimited budget and I will most likely exceed it! Okay. Maybe you have to be married to an accountant/businessman to think that's funny. But truth be told, he knows that I am a terrific bargain hunter who will dig and dig until I find most of my stuff at great prices.

I've been scouring consignment and antique shops for several months. It will take quite a few posts to share it all...but I've found some yummy stuff. Some you needed a little vision to see what it "could be" ....and some, no further explaining needed.

No further explaining needed...

The little bench with the barley twist legs {huge smile} is one of the pieces that came up from Florida. It was fresh out of their container that arrived from France. The framed art is like a petit-point tapestry...gorgeous to me. I'll probably do something with the frame...maybe some antique white paint & glaze.  

Guess what else I purchased from the Florida antique dealers? Squeal and smile.

I'll stop my show and tell for now on recent finds. We are long overdue to spruce up the place...we moved into this home about 9 years ago and most of the original decorating is still staring at us. Normally I am someone who is constantly changing and fluffing up one area or another. But as a family we went through so many twists and turns and one challenge after another that "normal" just sort of went out the window for a long, long season.  

Part of my smiling big goes beyond the fun of getting something new. It's about finally feeling like doing some decorating. Some fluffing up...taking on some long overdue projects. 

And the icing on the cake? Mr. Accountant is even smiling because he not only likes what the little shopper of the house is bringing home, but he also likes the deals I'm scoring as well. Or is he smiling because the mama is smiling? You know..."if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy..."

I'll go ask him which one it is...  

Xo, Sue

New Finds Second Time Around...

Part of the fun of trying to organize my creative workspace is finding stuff that's been packed away and rediscovering them all over again. Aren't these old cigarette giveaways awesome? They are filled with creative potential as well as being something you could create using your own stash of old photos.

 I believe I read somewhere that these date back to the late 1800's. These particular ones are about the size of a nickel.

There is no such concept as having too many buttons...just thought I would try to affirm all you button collectors of your deepest beliefs when it comes to buttons...

Same holds true for this nearly 30 inch long vintage French fish poacher. Wish I did have a collection of these...I'm always on the lookout for more but the prices are often ridiculously high. I only paid $5 for mine {which I know was a steal}...

Do you see the "RANCE" that should be FRANCE stamped on the bottom? Wonder if I should send this to Mr. Magpie and have him fix it?

 Or maybe I would do better wondering about WHY I'm on the computer when I need to be packing to head to the mountains to catch up with the crew that's already up there. Youngest child had a tournament and I stayed behind to escort him and a friend up later this afternoon.

But before I go, this technologically-challenged blogger [after I won't tell you how many attempts!] finally added the buttons on my sidebar to two upcoming events. Check them out as it's not too late to join in the fun!

I don't know what it is like where you live, but stepping outside in my neck of the woods is like getting hit with a blast of furnace air saturated with intense humidity. Nasty. Some cooler mountain air will be a welcome relief...

Blessings to all...

xo, Sue

Country French

Delightful! Inspiring! Charming! And more!

What I'm referring to is the newest edition of Country French Magazine. [Fall/Winter 2009]

 

This photo was featured on the cover of the magazine. The table? A party rental table...the kind you can buy at Sam's Club or a similar retail outlet, for maybe $100+ or so.

I'm not sure where I've been as I am a bookstore junkie and have been known to peruse the magazine displays for as much time as my schedule will allow. But for the life of me, I don't recall ever having seen this magazine before this weekend.

It is loaded with beautiful photographs...lots of inspiration and visually pleasing rooms spanning a multitude of budgets and taste. Being someone who loves fabric and the warmth it adds to a room, the variety of window treatments, slipcovers, and other applications using fabric was right up my alley.

  

In this featured article, the homeowner/shop owner likes to reupholster chairs using anything from drop cloths to feedsacks. Her farmhouse kitchen table is quite delightful as well...a whitewashed, distressed, chippy trestle table with slipcovered chairs [plastic chairs, no less!].  

What I also enjoyed is that the magazine included many homes which were all of a different genre and quite unique in their interpretation of Country French. Each wonderful!  If you're like me, all too often after purchasing a magazine, I feel buyers remorse. There wasn't enough "goodies" to warrant the spend of good cash. But this was not the case with this issue of Country French.

Oh, and how I could I forget to mention this IMPORTANT detail? Save for the first few and last pages of the publication, there is no advertising!!!  What a refreshing change from the norm.  

 

I loved the faux painting in this foyer from a home located in Texas.

 

Or how about this article on a couple who restored this 16th century French house? Oh, if the walls could talk...

 Doing a quick count, there are in excess of 125 photos [144 pgs. in length] featuring different living spaces. In one article they featured a converted barn, in another a 50's home, or a cottage, or a 16th century home and everything in between.

If this is speaking your language, go grab your own copy. I've barely scratched the surface of all that is packed in this wonderful edition! It's one of those magazines [at least this issue as I've not seen previous issues] that you will keep for future reference. Despite the fact that I've paged through, slowly, at least a dozen times, something new pops out at me each time through. It's that kind of magazine. The retail price is $9.99 and worth the spend!

Guest Room Makeover

 

 

Oh baby, I'm feeling it! I'm getting excited with the "coming together" of my guest room makeover. Back in July I posted here about this amazing {to me} headboard. At the time, I wasn't sure where I would be using it, I just knew I would be!

While there's miles to go before I'll be finished {satisfied?} with the final rendition, I'm happy where it's headed. "PRICE" is of utmost concern and I'm gathering pieces I've had forever, as well as a few additions I purchased at thrift and antique stores. All for thrifty prices, of course. For instance, the chest beside the bed...it's an Ethan Allen piece from their discontinued French Country line. Not sure of its original retail price tag, although there is a used one available here that is identical to mine, save that mine is in their painted version which I much prefer for my purposes. Their price tag? $799. Plus the $160 shipping cost.

I paid $150 [in mint condition] and the cost of delivery for me was treating my son and three of his strong friends to a breakfast at I-Hop!

Like many of the things I have throughout my home, the framed print was a snag during our spring break vacation in Florida. The minute I saw it, it spoke to me. The focal point of the print is a white lab. Immediately I knew I could get away with this purchase. You see, my little white lab is the apple of my DH's eye. He loves, loves, loves that pooch. As I was checking out, another customer in the store with this beautiful British accent informed me that the artist of this print was Andrew Wyeth. The name of the print, I later learned, is called Master Bedroom.

But truly, I was initially drawn to the piece because of the gorgeous frame. I love detail and scrumptious patina...

 

To demonstrate this love for patina, take a look at these old stools I bought in Tennessee at an antique store. $35 for the pair. My DH rolled his eyes when he spotted these little treasures. I could read his mind and it was thinking, "she's not bringing these in the house, is she?"

So there you have it...the beginnings of a room makeover. As it evolves, I'll keep you posted [pun intended].