Raindrops on Flowers

I have decided I am going to start focusing a bit more on my photography. I went outside this morning and experimented with my aperture settings. Hope you enjoy!

It rained all last night so I had a few raindrops on the flowers this morning! My front garden has really bloomed out well considering the drought this summer. I will try to get a few photos of the entire garden soon.

I'm going to be researching online to learn more about the settings on my camera, how to shoot different angles, and working with light. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for sources to learn more!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Hope you enjoy your Monday!

I can't believe it's the last week of August already!

Engagement Photos

We had our engagement photography session at the farm the beginning of June. We timed it out perfectly! The sunflower fields only stay in full bloom for 7-10 days. They looked beautiful and the weather was actually a little cooler! We had such a good time with our photographer, Toni Price. She was so relaxed, willing to take all of our joking THE whole time, and knew exactly what she was doing during the entire session.

I think this picture captures "us" perfectly

I have always had very high expectations for my engagement/wedding photos...because, of course I have been swooning over wedding sites for the past two years (yes, I started early)! I wanted our personalities reflected in the photos, but with an artistic twist.

When I saw Toni Price's portfolio, I knew she would give me exactly what I was looking for. She delivered, even exceeded. They are all absolutely breathtaking.

It was fun to incorporate a few fun props including my french settee in the meadow and a red tractor in front of the barn. Of course, the sunflowers were perfect on their own!

I love how Toni works with the rays of the sun!   

I feel so blessed that we were able to have the pictures taken at our farmhouse, too. They will be so special to us. Not only did she capture the beauty of "us," but also the beauty we are surrounded by everyday!

Here is her blog post about the session with even more pictures. You should really check out her other work as well. She is brilliant behind the camera!

It is so wonderful to work with someone that you fully trust. Thank you Toni!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend:) 

Stubborn Telephone Table

My Mom picked up this little telephone table when she was antiquing. We both agreed the details and fabulous legs would make for a fantastic makeover. It started out very chipped with gold paint. I imagined this table having a very smooth, polished finish. I wanted elegance. I decided green would fit this table perfectly.

I began by stripping this piece since I wanted a smooth look. The minute I started rubbing the paint off I knew this wasn't going to be easy. This piece of furniture had about three coats of paint on it. The paint got very sticky and was very stubborn in the creases of the turned legs. There was a time or two I wanted to throw this table out the window in frustration!

I actually walked away from it for a few weeks and then reevaluated what I needed to do to finish it. After getting most of the paint stripped, I had to go back with a handheld sander and chip off the remaining chunks of paint. I very quickly realized this piece was just NOT going to end up smooth and polished. I decided this table was going to have to look aged and distressed. I have always heard, "let the piece speak to you" and this was the perfect moment to listen to that advice.

BEFORE
(after it was stripped)

AFTER

I used a dark wax to get into the crevices the old paint left behind. I applied liquid gold leaf to the details with a small paint brush. This is when the piece really came alive...it gave it that elegance I was looking for in the very beginning.



BEFORE

AFTER

Not only did the piece talk to me... it had a better idea than I did.  Keeping this piece distressed really made it look like an antique. What do you think of the outcome?!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by!



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MIA and A Cute Shelf

Hello friends! First, I have to address why I have been MIA! I have been so busy this summer because I have gotten engaged! This happened at the end of May and we have the date set for October 20th of this year.

The planning process has been going smoothly and quickly. My Mom, sisters, and best friend have been helping me get things done! My older sister, Alyssa, over at Sweet Sewn Stitches has a knack for event planning and was on the phone in two days calling vendors. I am so lucky!

It has been such a whirlwind, but fun. I have been dreaming up my wedding for a few years (with the help of Pinterest), so it has been even easier because I knew exactly what I wanted.

Anyway, moving onto a fun furniture makeover! This shelf has been sitting finished in the garage for a while. I just needed to sit down and finish the photo editing! I found her at a garage sale at the beginning of summer for $20. I was really excited about painting since this was the first piece I worked on after my Annie Sloan class in Chicago.

BEFORE

I used the color Arles from the ASCP line. I'm in love with this color and it works perfectly for this piece. I think it works great for holding a few toys and books!

AFTER

It actually took three coats to cover without a primer just because the wood was so dark. I tried to use a sample pot of paint and it just didn't last. I think next time I will use a primer first to keep from using so much chalk paint for such a small project.

I finished with a coat of clear wax and then covered it with dark wax mixed with some clear to give an older finish since it already had some signs of age.

Thank you for sticking with my blog and checking in! I have a few more finished pieces to share and hopefully I will have the time to share some of my wedding inspirations and ideas.

Enjoy your weekend!

Annie Sloan's North American Tour

Last month, Annie Sloan started her tour around North America. I was planning on a spring break trip to Daytona with my little sister that same week. I really wanted to take this workshop, but the timeline just wasn't working out. The Chicago class was the closest, but we were supposed to check in at Daytona the same day. After checking the possibility of flying to Los Angeles for the class or driving to Nashville, I finally asked my sister if we could leave a day later for our trip. To my surprise, she was perfectly ok with that and I got to sign up for the class!

My Mom and I drove up Friday night which was only a two hour drive and we actually stayed in the hotel where the workshop was held. It was the same hotel where I had attended a hair show just a few years ago!

The next morning they served a nice breakfast and we sat in a full room to hear Annie Sloan tell her story, talk all about her paint, and answer all of our questions. It was fun to witness her passion about the paint, color ideas, and projects. You could tell she could have talked about it all day and of course I could have listened to her all day! After breaking for lunch, we then had a hands-on workshop. We experimented with a variety of techniques. I had so much fun learning and being surrounded by people that were just as excited about painting as I was!

We drove home afterward and then I immediately got into my sister's car for the 16 hour drive to Florida! I was in the car for a very long time, but it was so worth it. Everything worked out perfectly after all the stress of possibly not being able to go.

I have already visited the distributer shop in Indiana to pick up tons of chalk paint and I can't wait to get started on projects! The workshop was a great learning experience and a spring board to experiment and learn even more.

I think the best advice when you are interested in something, is to get out there and learn from the best. Just stepping out and researching can be so useful in growing with your skill. The internet gives a lot, but don't forget the library. I have been checking out several books on design and furniture. The opportunties to grow and learn are endless. Knowledge is power! And I believe it gives the ability to build confidence and motivation!

Spring Wreath

I recruited my Mom for this project because she just has an eye for floral pieces and I love how it turned out. The color combination just worked so beautifully together! I was inspired by Lindsay's Full Wreath that I found when searching for ideas. She gives a great tutorial that gave us a guideline to start with and then we used our creativity from there.

I hung it a few weeks ago and after a week of being up I noticed a bird had made a nest in the wreath! Can you see the nest in the top left? Don't you think it adds the perfect touch?!

Each day she added one more egg and now there are a total of four!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Monday. Thanks for stopping by!

Spring Fever

It has cooled back down this week compared to the 80 degree weather we were having a few weeks ago. I'm definitely ready to be outside doing more projects, but for now, here is peek of some color I brought indoors!

I will be sharing my spring wreath on Monday. Hope you enjoy your weekend!

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The Secret Eagle's Nest

This morning we visited an eagle's nest near my home. It was a brisk 36 degrees, but the sun felt just perfect on my back. I was amazed with how large the nest was. We were lucky enough to find one sitting in the nest and then as we approached, the other flew up and settled on a branch nearby.

I am so thrilled with the few pictures I captured, but seeing it truly takes your breath away! Hope you enjoy your Wednesday!

Framed Hooks and Knobs

My little sister's new house was finished a few months ago so we have been having fun decorating each room. We decided we needed something fun to hang up coats, purses, scarves, and hats at her entryway! She came up with the idea to use a decorative frame and a few different styles of hooks and knobs for a fun eclectic look.

We went to Hobby Lobby and began looking at the hooks and knobs that had the same style. After picking out five we liked, we then headed to look at frames. We found the perfect frame that matched our hooks! This idea couldn't have come together any easier.

Using the wall color as the backdrop was a new idea and I think it turned out so wonderful! I will soon be sharing more of her house as rooms are finished.

I can't believe I haven't blogged since February! Time has been flying by as usual. I have been up to so many things lately that I haven't had the time to sit down and write. I will be sharing some spring decorating ideas and also my amazing experience attending the class given by Annie Sloan herself! Sorry it has been so long... it seems my projects get done in waves. Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Few Handmade Pillows

Today I'm sharing a few pictures of the pillows I have made recently. I am always attracted to the linen and grain sack material so I used similar fabric and design for that look. 

 I purchased the 18x18 pillows at Jo-anns for half off. I later found feather pillows on clearance at TJ Maxx Home Goods for just $12! I just take the cover off and use the insert. Also, Ikea has 20x20 feather inserts for $7. Needless to say, I have at least 8 pillows sitting around ready for makeovers!

This striped fabric is so similar to a grain sack! The buttons are the perfect detail to give it some character. The only problem I have is this fabric wrinkles as you can see! 

I found this vintage salt sack at an antique store and immediately pictured it as a pillow. I love the worn look and it is a very soft material.

I had to show you my new Ikea couch with all of my fun pillows!

I have always loved the look of the Ektorp couch at Ikea. I always wanted one and when I found this one on Craigslist for $200 I couldn't pass it up! It was also nice I could give it a try with the white cover before spending the full amount. After having it a few months... I'm still in love with the look, but I do have to admit it isn't the best for entertaining. The depth is a little small for men and can't fit very many people. So, I might have to look for a similar version... just larger!

I have to mention that I am just thrilled I have 50 followers! Thank you all so much for your support. I hope I can just keep growing and inspiring.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

A Blue Nighstand

I just loved the shape of this night stand when I found it on Craigslist. I quickly paid the $25 for it and hauled it home. At first, I thought I might leave it the way it was since usually I love the cream color. Although...it's just not in my nature to leave a piece be! There were red and gold specks throughout the finish and I decided that wasn't quite the look I was going for anyway.

BEFORE

It looks like I couldn't wait to get that handle off before I got a picture!

AFTER

The base color is Martha Stewart's Robin's Egg Blue. The glaze is Valspar Translucent Mixing Glaze found at Lowes mixed with Raw Umber craft paint. I spray painted all of the fixtures with a bronze color to give a clean look.

I painted this back in the summer, but just got it finished because I struggled with finding a handle that fit where the previous holes were. I have filled holes, no matter what, ever since. That way, I can decide later if I want a handle or knob. I found this plate to cover the holes and it worked well so I could use a knob.

BEFORE

AFTER

Back before I knew what I was doing... my Mom showed me how to glaze with this piece. I'm so lucky to have her around so that I don't have to learn absolutely everything the hard way! The glaze toned down the blue perfectly and brought out all of the details.

I'm so glad this piece is finished! I am selling this one... hopefully quickly so that I have space for more future projects.

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Chalk Paint Fun

Last weekend I finally used my sample pots of ASCP. I found a pedestal and salt and pepper shakers at Goodwill in need of a little makeover.

BEFORE

AFTER

I used the Duck Egg Blue for the pedestal. I love how the paint went on with an immediate texture to it. I painted this with the wood showing through in places so sanding was not even needed. You will be seeing this in my spring decor in April with a few colorful eggs in it!

The shakers I used two coats of Old White. I sanded them and then used a dark wax to give an aged look. I can't believe how quickly this paint dries! I had these two things done in just a couple of hours.

I have to say I know this paint isn't cheap, but I had fun just using sample pots to try it out. Although, I haven't decided whether I will be purchasing larger portions yet. I have tried to be very picky about what I use it on because it is so precious! Just be sure when reading instructions on the pot, you don't tilt the jar enough to spill this gold on the floor (ask me how I know)!! I think I almost cried!

I have to thank you for the wonderful comments on my pink vanity! I can't wait to share another furniture makeover later this week!