Decorating the Top of the China Hutch

Does anyone remember last week when I said I was on a creative roll?  That was when I showed you my picnic basket vignette.  No?  Well, that's okay, that just means you probably haven't stopped by in awhile.  Can I just remind you that I'm still here!  I'm still blogging and styling and have lot's to share. I know I fell off the grid while I was working but I'd like thank those of you especially who have remained constant and faithful blog friends.  It really means a lot to me!  For the rest of you, I'm sending out a sweet reminder that the door is always open around here and I do enjoy hearing from you! So, I hope you come on in!

We are back in the dining room ladies, where I was inspired to create this little vignette on top of my china cabinet.

Here's what inspired me!  

I have seen these herb boxes all over blog land and wanted some for so very long.  I about flipped when I came across them at a Decor Warehouse that I visited with a friend last month.  They were priced so well, that it was no doubt they would be coming home.  I had no idea they would end up in the dining room of all places but I love because it keeps my dining room from looking too formal.

After hanging the three boxes on the wall I needed a place for the fourth box and decided on top of the china cabinet was perfect.

I stored a few platters that I rarely use in the box to give it even more height.

The I also decided that the top of the hutch was a great place to store those other pieces I love that I rarely ever will use too.

I added some greenery and few flowers for color and a nice summer show and I was done.

I love to say it was as easy that, but...that would not be the whole truth.  You see the top of my hutch is very arched.  Getting my vignette set the way I envisioned was a bit of challenge.  I finally ended up using cotton batting of all things to create height and a flat surface where I needed it on the curves.  Pretty crazy huh?

Wanna take a peek inside? I added some color in here too!

This butterflie dish and the forget me not dish were my MIL's.  I just love these!  

Speaking of sweet look what I saw out of the window when I was snapping pics of the hutch.

Do you see her now?  Isn't she just precious!

Speaking of precious, did you happen to notice my new plant?

I had been wanting to get a real plant for my stand in the dining room for awhile now and was thinking of getting a fern until I discovered this at Lowes.  There was only one and of course I snapped it right up.  It's a good thing I did because I had several ladies asking what it was and where did I find it?

It's called a Lipstick Twister, or Aeschynanthus Radicans to be more accurate.  I just fell head over heals in love with those lacy little ringlets.  It does have blooms that will look much like lipstick. 

It requires indirect sunlight so this little spot in the dining room will be just perfect. 

I am joining the following parties today;

Inspire me

Fertilizer Friday

If you happened to stop by thank you so much! It's always a pleasure when you do.  I love company, don't you?

 Be sure and come back again real soon.  I've got several more projects I've been working on for the booth and have lot's to share!

Have a great day everyone!

The Tale of Two Chest Makeover's

I've been a busy little bee lately working on a few makeovers for the booth.  Can I just say that  I am loving doing this soooo much!!!! I just can't tell you how much!  The only downfall so far is that I want to keep everything I am making over.  Now, I didn't say I was, but I sure wanna!

I especially am having a very hard time with this chest.  This is how it looked when I purchased it.

It's a great size!  Kinda heavy, but very sturdy and very well made.  I just fell in love with it from the moment I first laid eyes on it.  

I am even more in love with it now after giving it a fresh coat of black enamel paint from Sherwin Williams.  

No sanded edges or faux treatments for this classic beauty!

In fact I left the inside as it was because well, it just seemed much more appealing that way to me.

This lady may just have to take her sweet time going to the booth.

The next little chest that got a makeover was the little brown one.

And here she is after her makeover!  Isn't she sweet?

I just loved how this one turned out.  She had great texture to begin with so I knew that was staying.  No sense in creating more work to change what is already working for ya, right?  All I needed to do here was repaint the who chest and then give it a light glaze to highlight the tin.

I didn't even need to do anything on the inside of this one either.  

 Well, there you have it friends!  I've actually already completed two other makeovers as well but will share them on another post.  Too much eye candy in one post is not good for you you know!

LOL!  Just kidding!  

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I am really glad you did.  I am joining the parties today over at BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday and at A Stroll thru Life for Inspire me Tuesday.  

I hope you enjoyed your visit here! Have a great week!

Grab and Go Dining

Today's FB status for me was...Man, has my brain been in creative overload!  I have to tell you I have been on a roll!  This is a very welcomed thing too because after what feels like almost years of just slowly pumping it out I feel like I've started to make a turn around.

Today among several other things I worked on getting the dining room straightened up.  It was very cluttered from gathering things up for my booth and desperately needed to be put back in order.  I feel so relieved to have things looking straight and looking great if I do say so myself.  Now we could be here all day if I showed you everything I worked on.   So, for both our sakes I will only focus on one corner of the room only for this post.

This is what I am calling my "Grab and Go" vignette.  How do you like that idea?

This vignette all started because I wanted a place to store these two wonderful picnic baskets that I purchased from the antique store last week.  I found them, fell in love and that's when I made the decision it was time to open my own booth.

I have been a basket lady for as long as I can remember.  I have always, always decorated with baskets.  In fact, I've had so many at one time I even eliminated several before a move.  

 Come on, just try and tell me that you would have been able to skip right on by either of these.  I just do not think so my friend!

 Of course a basket as cute as this deserves to be filled with all kinds of goodies too.

My beautiful melamine plates are perfect for outdoor entertaining on the run.  Now I will get to enjoy looking at them as well, instead of them being all cooped up in the kitchen cabinet.

I also unboxed a few special bottles of wine that were still sitting in the box that I brought them home in from our trip to Biltmore house and Gardens.

Finally because all good picnic baskets must have linens.  I decided to use a few out of a very special set I purchased from a resale store last year.

Along side of this picnic basket I decided to use a few things to create a "Grab and Go" utensil caddy.  This will be perfect to pick up and take outside to use by the pool.

I even managed to work in a space for that cute little piece of pottery that was supposed to be going in my booth.   Just not quite yet though!  Hehee!

Under the table is where I keep two of my silverware boxes so I decided it would also be a great space for the other other basket.

And just like the basket on the top, it deserved to be filled with things for outdoor dining as well.

Since these are my newest acrylics and I love, love, love the way they look, they were my first choice.

Do you even have to ask why I chose this linen?  I didn't think so!  

Looks like I'm all ready now!

Thanks for stopping by today, I really appreciate the visit.  I truly do hope you enjoyed it as well.

I am linking this post to the following parties;

Inspire Me Tuesday

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Be sure and visit the links above for more beautiful inspiration!

Have a great day Everyone!

Yard Sale Treasures - Before - Part 1

Hi Friends!  Man, has my weekend been action packed, how was yours?   In between getting the first little bit of my booth set up, participating in one of our sailing club races on Saturday, baking on Sunday and rafting up on the water with friends on Monday...I actually squeezed in one more activity?  I know...crazy right?

Well I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to a few yard sales Saturday morning.  So glad I did because I am feeling pretty excited about these finds.  I can hardly wait to get my paint brushes out!

Most everything is sitting in the garage waiting for a few redo's.

I am in love with these two chests!  I have already decided on the new finish for both of them as well.  They will be going in the booth after I am done, but OH BOY is that going to be hard!

This pic is going to be very hard to part with too.

These two pottery pieces were captivating for sure.  Unfortunately after I got home I found out the handle on the basket is broken.  It is not noticable at all but a clean break near the bottom.  I will have to see if there is a way to repair it.

The new color possibilities on the gold plant stand are just swirling around in my head right now.  Both of these are going to be very hard to part with.  I love me some plant stands!

Now for the best deal of the day.  I cannot wait to get this one painted.  I am pretty set on either and off white or black and she's done.  What do you think?  What would you prefer?

Well, I gotta run! I've still got a few more things to add to the booth today and tweak it some more and then I've got to get busy on these transformations.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Of course if you hadn't figured it out yet.  I am joining Metamorphosis Monday today over at BNOTP.

Hope you'll join us there too!

Have a great day!

Nothin says Lovin....

...Like something from the oven!

The holidays are a great time to share some homemade goodness. 

And spread a little sunshine!

When was the last time you baked homemade oatmeal cookies?  It's been quite a while for me.  I have to say these turned out so much better then I ever remembered.  This recipe was straight off the top of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

1 cup raisins.

I followed this recipe fairly close with only a few exceptions.  I didn't use salt and my sugars were slightly altered.  The biggest change I made was I used dark chocolate morsels instead of raisins, because my family is picky like that!  LOL!

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Looking forward Honoring and remembering all those you gave so much for our freedom!

God Bless each of you!

Yay!!! I have a Booth now!

Whoo hoo!  Yesterday, I signed the contract for my first booth.  I just can't tell you how "very" long I have wanted to do this.   I was visiting my favorite resale store the other day and was so excited when I saw this booth was available. I decided it was finally the right time to move forward and just do it.   It's a small little space but it is quite large enough for me.  I am also starting small to test the waters without breaking the bank. I am sooo excited!!!! So without further ado...here it is!

This booth is located in a store that has been in business for quite some time.  It is called Almost Antiques...that pretty much describes it too.  It is located in a building that used to be a  very large daycare many years ago.  My booth is located in the back of the building in what was the gym.  That's why the basketball goal is shown behind my booth.  Hehe!  Don't worry it's not over my booth it's actually much further back against the wall.  

I was thrilled to get this space because I have always actually preferred shopping here in the back of the building in the gym.  I like how there are more booths and more vendors spread out back here.  My booth is only 5 x 10 in size which is among some of the smaller ones.  There are actually some smaller spaces available that are essentially cubbies only.  Seriously! You know the kind of cubbies you see in a daycare.  LOL!   Anyway, I like this space because I can put some furniture in here if I want and I certainly do.  My hope is to get a few pieces at a time to work on and sale in addition to all the other smaller items that will go on shelves.

I am welcome to use any of these shelves if I want too or they will move them out.  I am glad they are here because I need to use them for now.  I can move and rearrange and set up how I want.  I can keep the tulle around the wood or get rid of it, but the lattice has to stay as that is what they built.  I'm good with that because it's one of only a few booths that has this in the gym and that gives me wall space to hang things on.  There were a few pieces of "stuff" left over from a previous tenant in these pics.  It's not my stuff, I haven't moved in yet.  They are getting rid of that stuff and I can move in ASAP.

I will be doing so immediately as soon as I can finish gathering up some of my own stuff.   Pricing things out and inventorying everything.   I can hardly wait and am feeling just giddy!

I am still wrestling with what to name my booth.  Hoping I'll come up with something soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by today to share my good news.

I hope each of you has a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!