Mantel Magic

I'm am so excited to finally post about the biggest piece of my Going Coastal room transformation.  Taking deep breaths, take your time, slow down. Okay I'm good now.

I first told you about starting my Coastal feel room makeover here.  I had great success with the first few projects of the room, but I was struggling with finding the right shutters to create the headboard in the inspiration photo.  Finally, thanks to Wonder Hubby, we found the right piece.  Read all about our find here. 

Now I was ready to get to the fun stuff.  This is how the mantel looked when we purchased it. 

First step was cleaning and cleaning and more cleaning.  We were so excited to try it in the room, we were cleaning like crazy!  I didn't think I would be able to use it as is but it was worth trying to clean.  It had years of crud buildup that just would not come clean, so I had some painting to do, but first we had to test it out.  It was perfect (wish you could hear me sing Perfect) because it made me sing to see it in place.  It fit the space and the bed width perfectly.

1st Test in the Room.  I'm gonna love it.  Also had to test a couple of accessory ideas!

After seeing it in the room, I couldn't drag it to the garage fast enough.  I sanded the whole piece and Wonder Hubby repaired some loose pieces and removed a lot of nails that had no purpose.  The one problem we had with using the mantel as a headboard was the opening.   The opening width was fine but there was a lot of open space between the bed and the bottom of the mantel.   Hmmmm..so we studied the situation and decided we could fill the space with bead board.  Part of this decision was made because we had a piece just lollying about in the garage waiting for a purpose.  It was meant to be because it was just barely enough to fit.

We are so Redneck Creative using Paint Sticks are Joiner Pieces
Hey it's free and works:)


Then it was painting time. I love the look of chippy/distressed furniture and I love creating this look. BDJ totally does not get buying old and then redoing and then distressing to get old again....and when I think about it, it is a little nutty. 

Nutty or not I couldn't get going soon enough. I waxed all the areas I felt would look best distressed and then painted. The paint I used is Porter Paints interior flat latex in Cream Puff and I already had this paint, yippee it's free. Then I waited patiently paced a track around the garage while the paint dried.   Now came the fun part. Using my handy dandy sanding block, I started knocking the paint off the waxed areas.  I love dong this!  Soon I realized that you can have too much of a good thing and I had gone way beyond too much. So back to square one, I painted it again. Do ya'll do that? Sometimes I end up painting things multiple times before I am happy or before I can stop myself from going too far. The second try turned out perfectly, just enough chippy areas. The picture below shows the mantel with the 1st painting and the beaded board attached.

Yea.... Finally I had just the right look.   The black bead board required a couple of coats of paint to cover. 

 I was so excited to try it in the room all complete, but I used this excitement to help kick me into gear to get a bedskirt made to use.  I had purchased a box pleated bedskirt but I should have know that I was putting too much faith in a SteinMart 9.99 special.  When I got it home it was just too thin for me so I decided to patiently wait for the right one.

My patience lasted about 2 days.  I knew I should wait for the right one, but I really wanted to have the room together before BDJ came home for a visit and I was running out of time.  I rationalized that if I didn't have to buy anything and could make one that would do for more I could justify buying "the one" later.  So I went shopping in storage bins and closets.  Lucky me,  I had an old sheet in butter yellow that matched a stripe in the shams I told you about here.  Yes!!!  I was ready to go but some of that life stuff happened.

My ankle biter Chloe developed pancreatitis and we were told she might not recover.  She spent 5 days in the doggie hospital and I spent 5 days crying.  Isn't it amazing how empty your home is without the unconditional, unwavering love and presence of your pet?  Our prayers were answered and not only did she recover but she had an underlying condition that if she had not developed pancreatitis would have gone undetected that she would not have recovered from.  I am happy to report that she is 100% now. In fact, she feels better than she has in a couple of years.  We are thankful.

Chloe came home on Tuesday and on Thursday my brother had to have emergency surgery. He came home by the weekend and is also doing well.  With that behind me I was able to get started. 

Mother most definately helped me with this project. We stripped the sheet into 6 pieces and joined them end to end.  Then we started to hem...and we hemmed and hemmed.  Finally onto the most frustrating fun part: the pining and the gathering.  I used the 9.99 special as an underlayer (it helped create a little more fullness).   While I gathered, and gathered, and gathered, Chloe assisted.  Bless her heart, I didn't realize she could be any more needy, but she seems to fully understand she was very, very sick and she is not quick to let me forget it. 

With all the help from Chloe, this project went incredibly quickly so incredibly slow.  The bedskirt was complete and after about 3 tedious hours of ironing and starching, it was ready to put on the bed.  Now the bedding (well the "for now" bedding) is complete and I'm ready for the headboard.  Wonder Hubby and I moved it in and he secured the headboard to the wall using L brackets.   Okay ya'll try to be excited for me even though I haven't gotten that professional photography and fluffing down yet....ready?

I love it!  I still can't show the whole transformation because I have another little project on each side of the bed that I still have to reveal, but trust me, it is coming soon.  It isn't exactly what I had in mind when I saw the inspiration picture, but it has turned into exactly what I wanted.  Don't you love it when that happens?

Thanks for stopping by. 

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Summer Officially Ends Tomorrow

Waste not want not.  I like to think I live by this motto, otherwise it would be hard to explain all the stuff I hang onto to use later.  I've discussed that problem here so we don't have to go there again.  I have also talked about my obsession love of tomatoes.  So I have to give an update.

I am happy to report that we have been enjoying wonderful tomatoes since July.  We have had several frosts but I managed to baby my tomatoes and we limped on.  Until last week, that is, when we had a couple of freezes. That ended all hope of the 4 dozen or better green tomatoes still on the vine without ever maturing :(   Thankfully I pulled about 3 dozen ripe tomatoes before the freeze.  Staying true to my motto, I couldn't let any of them go to waste so...

First, I had my final bologna sandwich of the season :(    Yes it was a sad day.   I followed that up with this sandwich ring. 

This sandwich is usually relegated to our winter menu (it is great for football days) and never experiences sporting fresh tomatoes.  Oh my goodness, it was incredible!  Now I have probably ruined this sandwich for all of us unless it is tomato season. 

Then I used all the itty bitty maters for some fresh salsa.  Yummy....Mini and I have eaten way too much of this all summer.

As of tomorrow when I decide how to use the last 4 tomatoes, summer will have officially ended here.  I'm so glad it worked out that way since it seems a little weird to be planning my Thanksgiving menu while eating tomato sandwiches!

Sometimes you Feel like a Nut and It's a Good Thing

Those of you that know me know that I rant and rave  Unfortunately I rant more than I should and more than I rave (I'm working on it).  Now that I have shared a big flaw let me redeem myself a bit.

I recently noticed the new commercial for creamers that taste like your favorite treats, namely Cinnabon and Almond Joy.  Pay attention here because I'm putting in a disclaimer.....I DO NOT drink coffee.  That's right I drink a concoction that is made with a cup and a half of expresso, a packet of cocoa mix or dessert syrup (whichever I have) and usually 2% milk.  I occasionally skip off into the adult world and try a flavored creamer.  My interest was peaked after seeing this ad but I was disappointed that it was Almond Joy and not Mounds, because goodness knows, I'm nutty enough.  For 3 weeks I passed the creamer cooler at the grocery and gazed longingly hoping there would be a Mounds flavor.  For 3 weeks I left empty handed but with a full list of flavors I wanted to try at some point. 

Finally last week I just couldn't take it anymore.  Truthfully, I was either really hungry or experiencing some kind of sugar craving inducing hormone surge.   Either way the result was the purchase of International Delights Almond Joy creamer.  I left hoping that the coconut and mocha would override the nutty part.  Honestly if it has chocolate I can usually make myself deal with it :)

Ya'll this stuff is awesome!  I think I called 6 people to rave about it after my first cup. It was truly like drinking a melted Mounds, I couldn't really taste any nuttiness.  Yeah!  So I have been happily enjoying this in my "coffee" for a week now and am still loving it.  You gotta give it a try.  Enjoy!

Going Coastal/Postal Part II

Welcome to the 2nd installment of trying to finish a guest room.  For most of you this would be no big deal but for yours truly everything is an ordeal!

In part one of this saga I explained I was in search of shutters to create a headboard that was inspired by this  Pottery Barn photo.

They had to be the perfect chippy shutters and I needed at least 3 of them.  I figured this was gonna be cake because I see these shutters absolutely everywhere.  Shocking as it may be I figured wrong (I know I can hardly believe I was wrong!).   Now that I knew exactly what I wanted there were no shutters to be found.   I lived on Craigslist, constantly checked out local radio swap and shop and checked out all the local junktiques, nothing.  

Sometimes you have to wait for the right thing and this was obviously one of those times.  So Wonder Hubby and I decided to take a break from the search have a little fun.  We love the Nashville Fairgrounds Flea Market, especially the fall markets.  The weather was perfect, Mini was looking forward to spending the day chilling on the couch and we were footloose and fancy free for the day.

The booths with fall decor really put me in the mood for fall.  Not an easy task since I detest cold weather and never allow myself to enjoy fall because I am busy dreading winter.   I love the process of looking at booth after booth of interesting goodies and  anticipating what will jump out and be my "find" of the day.

These are adorable!  I think I want the Flamingo by my pond.

Okay, maybe I need a pumpkin on legs instead...

Love, Love, Love this painted furniture, the blue is so calming.

These architectural pieces are awesome and they inspire more projects.

One of our favorites reasons to attend the flea market is this booth.

Fiesta Heavan

Wonder Hubby and I began our Fiesta collection last year.    What started with a 4 place setting is completely out of hand now.  We collect 1st and 2nd quality as well as vintage pieces.  This booth carries factory 2nd's.  I love all the possible color combinations but Wonder Hubby is completely obsessed  and so does Wonder Hubby.
Normally I am the dig through piles half of our duo but not when it comes to Fiesta.  I lose interest after 2 plates while Wonder Hubby will search indefinately for the perfect pieces.

Choosing the right piece is serious!

Naturally I was still looking for shutters and I was finding some.  Some broken, some vinyl, some that weren't big enough and some that were just right but had just sold!  Wonder Hubby and I took a break and enjoyed a co-cola and noticed a building that we had never been in.   After we finished our break we headed toward this unsearched building.

  On the walk over Wonder Hubby asked "could you use a Mantel as a headboard?"   "You could but I wanted shutters and it would have to be just be right one," I responded.  "Would that one work?" he asks as he points to this.

Although I have never thought about it and figured this would be more than I wanted to spend, I walked over to look and before I got any closer than this, I knew it was perfect!  Isn't Wonder Hubby the bomb?  It was completely nasty and gross a little more distressed than I hoped but for some reason it was the right piece even though I just knew I wanted shutters.  I had to hunt down booth proprietor who immediately said she had it priced at $175.00 but would make me a deal.  Bless her heart she lost me at $175.00 since I am so incredibly cheap that she might as well have said $1,750.00!   So as she tells me that it is from a late 1800's church and that she has always thought it would make a great bed (what did she say?  headboard?   I didn't tell her that!) and that she has not sold it in 2 markets and doesn't know why, I am trying to listen politely knowing that this won't be a deal I'll be interested in.   Suddenly I hear something that snaps me back to the conversation...$60.00 is that what she said?  Yeppers it certainly was!  So bless Wonder Hubby's heart he had just created himself an afternoon I arranging transportation of one absolutely perfect mantel/headboard.

I'll be posting the transformation soon.

It's The Witching Hour

Happy Halloween all!  Since my little spook is in high school now, our Halloween is pretty low key.   I miss the excitement this day brought when the kids were little :( 

In past times all the pumpkins would be carved and the Halloween costumes would have been well worn by today.  Today would have been filled with dressing in costume for a school party and trick or treating afterward.  Then naturally, Wonder Hubby and I would ah hem....check the candy.  Bless my kids hearts I don't think they knew they even got chocolate stuff till they were 8 or 9 since we skimmed all that off first!  I know we are bad!  Don't feel too sorry for the little spooks though, believe me the grandparents always loaded them up with plenty of the good stuff.

 I normally do quite a bit of decorating for Halloween but this year I've been a little off.  I was busy preparing for BDJ to come home from Las Vegas for a visit for the 1st time since May and just not feeling the Halloween bug this year, so I didn't manage to decorate much but I will give you a peek at what I did do.



Halloween Mantel

This is my fall/Halloween mantel.  The vintage ghosts and letters I showed you in this post are easily removed and the ceramic jack-o-lanterns are turned around and presto, no more Halloween, just fall goodies.

I love my letters and the old scarecrow birdhouse.



Fall Decor on Writers Desk



I love this old table and dressing it in anything looks great.  I especially like the Autumn letters I made last year.  I liked them so much I made some sets for friends.




This little wreath was whipped up with stuff I found while organizing the garage recently.  I painted the individual pieces up and arranged them on the wreath then added a bow.  I am a big believer in using what you have so I ended up with the yellow and black bow....and it has got to go!   I'll catch some orange ribbon on sale after Halloween to make a new bow and update the wreath next year.  For now it is just right for the playhouse.

This is Mini's playhouse.  It is officially called Miss Mara's.  It may soon become Miss Mama's as it has so much potential and Mini is too old to have interest.  I have so many ideas for where I could take this place.  Writing nook, craft room, potting shed I still can't decide.

The personalized candy corn always makes me smile.  Don't they just look happy?  Although, strangely my candy corn is missing...gotta make a new one.

All my planters are decked out in Mums and Scarecrows.

Wonder Hubby and I made this little guy years ago.  I didn't take a very good picture but the signs read Harvest Time, Pumpkin Pickin, Leaf Rakin, Nutty Fall Fun.

This was my favorite fall decor. BDJ and Mini together while he was home for a visit.   Wish they could stay right here just like that forever.

Another photo of Miss Mara's with Mini's maple tree.

We planted this shortly after we built the playhouse and the color is so beautiful it is breathtaking.

Thanks for taking my little Halloween/Fall Tour.  Hope you all enjoyed a beautiful fall day and a Happy Halloween.

Getting Beachy with It - AKA The Saga of Circus to Coastal

I have been happily moving along on the transformation of Mini's room from Circus to Coastal.  I wanted to make as many of the elements in the room as possible so today I would like to share a few of those projects with you.

After the room was painted I discovered the paint color I had chosen wasn't the easiest color to match, especially since I had this picture in my mind of what I wanted.  One of the things I had pictured was white bedding with shams, a bedskirt and accents in a worn canvas chair/beachy feeling fabric and it had to be striped.  It seemed like I had seen the a million times but everytime I found something it didn't quite match and wasn't the exact fabric I had in mind.  My mother (aka The Nana), Mini and our spare, Bri went shopping recently and of course we did our time at JoAnn.  Don't you just love that place?  I have the hardest time staying on task when shopping there!

I had looked here previously, as well as Hobby Lobby and every website possible to find fabric but on this shopping day I scored big!  Aisle 1 - on sale was this fabric.

It was exactly what I had in mind!  Don't you love it when that happens?  I rushed home and The Nana and I set about turning el perfect fabric into these shams.

They are lending just the right feel to the room.   I also picked up some burlap on this shopping spree.  I have been seeing so much of it out in blogland and just love it.  I really felt it would give some natural feel to my room transformation.  I had wanted several words cut out of wood and painted in the room, 2 of which were to be Drift and Dream.  I mean when I'm at the beach that is just what I want to do..drift on my float of the waves and dream about never going home!   Since my attempts to cut these out had ended badly I wanted to add these words to my pillows.  Hmmm...how to do that.

Before I go any further with this project you need to know this.  I can sew but I really don't like it because, well, because it involves math and following rules.  You know that whole measuring thing with those little lines between a 1/4 of an inch?  Do we need those?  Then there is the whole sewing in straight lines thing...there are those rules again.

The Nana on the other had has sewn for years.  Clothing, drapes, upholstery, my wedding gown!  So you can imagine what it is like to learn from a pro...she learned back in the day and will turn a jacket in a store inside out to inspect the seams.  There is absolutely no hope that I will ever sew as well as she does but I do make an attempt from time to time.  In the interest of full disclosure I generally like to have her onsite when I make these attempts.  A lot of the time she ends up taking over the project because I never sew to suit her don't care like I should!  I was so tickled to complete the shams above by myself.  Okay, The Nana was here and did help with the cutting since I cannot cut straight but I did the sewing and the ironing (ironing and seam trimming is uber important to The Nana).  Coming off this big win I decided to take on the burlap pillows unsupervised. 

Before figuring out how to add my words to the fabric I needed to get all the pieces cut.
The cutting was a bit challenging due to the loose weave of burlap but hey with all that give I figured I could make it work.  I may have figured wrong...err none of the pieces seemed to match up.

Not being deterred by the non matching sizes I moved on to adding the words.  First I printed off my text, this took a bit as I needed text that could be turned into a stencil.  Then using a tip from a fellow blogger I taped my text to a sheet of wax paper, wax side down.  Using an exact-0 knife I cut out the stencil then ironed the wax paper onto the burlap.  Wow...how easy was that?  I will be using this idea again and again.

After letting them dry I went to work turning them into pillows.  Easy enough right?  Well for most people yes easy, but I can make a mess of anything.  After I made several attempts that included sewing the worded side on the inside and leaving the stuffing opening on top, I took a break.

It was The Nana's birthday so I prepared dinner and Mini made cupcakes from scratch and we celebrated Nana's big day.  Okay, the truth is when she arrived dinner wasn't quite ready and I showed her my "pillows."  "Oh, those are really cute!" she said.  So I confessed all my mistakes (cause by lack of attention to detail).  She felt sorry for me and helped me remake the problem areas and close them up.  Thanks Mom!  Then we enjoyed our dinner and birthday cupcakes and then plopped these cuties onto the bed to check them out. 



Mom and Mini

 They are just right...can't wait to show you the whole effect when I reveal more of the transformation.