I (heart) John Derain...

Promise you won't tell my husband...

I love, love, love his work...

But how can you not love a man who decoupages?

With amazing vintage images and ephemera.

He is the decoupage king.

Can I gush more?

And the way he places images and the images he uses makes my heart melt.

If only I could afford them.. so instead I will admire from afar...

Thank goodness they are glass...

and my drool will wipe up easily....

all images are of John Derain's work, I hope he doesn't mind that I borrowed them..

Jen

Change is good.

I found these fabulous knobs at Hobby Lobby, who I have to say is starting to rival Anthropologie for "awesome knobs."

The best part of knobs is that they are so easy to change if I get tired of them or I decide they really are ugly.

Knobs are always a great detail and a good risk.

Especially at $3 a piece on sale.

I loved these black and white bull's eyes.

With going lighter and brighter and more natural, This cabinet I made over last year has just been too dark and stuffy and didn't fit any more.

Sometimes change is good.

Jen

A blogland loss...

We lost one of our own. I found out from another blog that Stacey Wolfley, The Thrifty Chick passed away at age 31 from a stroke; 14 days after giving birth to her 4th baby. She had such a bright spirit, a lovely family and a wonderfully creative talent.

She will certainly be missed.

Serendipity is...

A cute pair of $3 yard sale shoes.....

Price my space..

The Nester is having "Price my Space" party. Since I love a good bargain, and peaking into other's peoples houses ( I love it when I drive at night and people have their lights on and their curtains open. I am so nosey!), I wanted to jump on in.

I thought I would do the living room, since it is generally the cleanest. I'll go over most of the major things. My house is pretty much furnished from throwaways, flea market finds, or thrift store finds with the occasional Ebay item...

The Chair was $40 at a local yard sale. The couch was one that was my grandmother's that my Dad grew up on. It was $800 to recover it fabric and all(Which is why it has a cover on it...I'm not letting those little nose-pickers touch it!!) The little red cabinet was a deal I scored at Tj Maxx. The clock faces were an Ebay find for around $40. The vintage lamp was $8 at a yard sale. The 3 "lady" pictures are my own art so they were only about $8 for the canvases. The black mirrors were free a few years ago with a perfume purchase at Ulta. The Vintage birds pictures were an Ebay purchase, $9 for 50! And yes, my drapes are painter's drop cloths for $9 each!

This chair was a free garbage pick. The one Kim parker I scored at a thrift store for $18, but I admit I paid full price... $22 for the second. The rug on the floor was a $30 yard sale purchase.

The ottoman was my mother -in -laws (free) and I sewed a little slip cover for it for free. The time out chair was $3 at a yard sale. The lamp was one of a set at a yard sale for $10.

The vintage suitcase was $14 at a thrift store.

The top pictures was something a friend was getting rid of so I snatched it right up (free). The bottom picture was just a computer printing I put in a yard sale frame for $5. The black rail underneath is a bench I bought for $7 about 8 years ago. It's still hanging in there!

I paid $11 each for the birdcage pictures at a thrift store. the topiary was $8, the little birdies were on sale from Hobby Lobby for $2 each. The Console table was $25 at a yard sale. It's a great piece because it's been about 7 different colors already. The tray underneath was an on-sale Target find for $6, and the planter has been hanging around for a few years now.

Finally, ( Thank you for hanging in there so long..) My father-in-Law gave me the fabulous dresser that holds all of our games and kids crafts. The mirror was in our bedroom and has been moved around the house many times. I painted the "5" plate. The old books I picked up for about $2 a piece. And the lamp came from Walmart a very long time ago on sale for $5.

I added it up and after adding in the coffee table you can't really see, my space adds up to just under $1185 with a few extra knick-knacks thrown in!

Not too bad. Some people spend that on a couch!

Thank for stopping by for the tour, I hope you enjoyed peeking in!

Stop on over to the Nester's for more spaces!

I'm a what?!

I had to go for a Doctor's appointment the other day and they were updating my files. The receptionist said. "Let me see here.. it says you're insurance is ..."

"Yep."

"and you live..."

"Yep."

"And you're a homemaker..."

Squealing tires, crickets chirping then total silence....

"What?"

She got a little quiet ."We have you listed as a homemaker?"

"Um, I stay at home with the kids, but work part time..."

Oh so it's right?"

Did I suddenly go in the Wayback Machine with Simon and Mr. Peabody at some point to the 1950's? Did I mistakenly show up in my pearls and high heels? Homemaker? HOMEMAKER?!

And have you seen the crime I have committed called a casserole? Did you not see the bath tub ring, the dog hair floating across the floor like tumbleweeds, and all 3 kids crying at once and me wishing I had a bottle of vodka and a dark closet somewhere?

Is there not a better term out there in 2009? Have we not progressed at all? And me, on top of it, a homemaker? That's like calling the kid who cuts our lawn "The landscaper."

While I was busy having a crazy fit that could only be heard somewhere inside my head, she cleared her throat.

"So that's right?"

Silence, then, acceptance.

"Yeah."

Illuminated music

Today is Kimba's DIY Thursday.

Since I've returned from Farm Chicks, I had been dy-ing to use some of the cool elements I had purchased there; vintage seam binding tape, and a vintage pocket watch face.

I decided to spruce up one of my lamp shades using sheet music I already had and some twine.

I wrapped it and glued it and then added a little folded sheet music ruffle.

The best part is, it's all hot glue baby.

Check out the other great DIY's at Kimba's.

Jen

It's raining. It's pouring.

Is it bad parenting to let your kids play in a full blown downpour after they've been inside WITH YOU all day?

I swear it wasn't lightening or thundering.....

Top this one...

I wanted to add some interesting texture to my coffee table, but I have to admit, I was too lazy to paint something and I wanted something less permanent in case I wanted to change it...

Hmm... What's clear, easy to clean, cheap, but I can stick things to? And under $6?

Adhesive shelf liner!

I made a full length one for my coffee table, but you could even do smaller ones for place mats.

I used old book pages for mine, but you could use anything printed...

Simply...

Pre-cut a sheet of CLEAR adhesive shelf liner to the size you'd like.

Get your book pages or other media ready. This would be a fab mixed media project/ display.

Flip it so the paper backing side is up.

Slowly peel the backing off a bit at a time and stick as you go. You may need to tape the sides down to hold it in place, or the top initially to keep it from moving.

Once you have all of your media stuck on, you can flip it over and just use that one side or place another piece of adhesive shelf liner on the other side and both sides will be protected.

And Wipeable.

This would be awesome for a book club dinner, or you could use copies of family photos for display, or even display children's art work.

wallpaper?

wrapping paper?

scrapbook paper?

So many endless options!

Did I mention it's totally wipeable? :)

Jen

Small changes and shout outs..

I've recently gone to a 3 column blog.. (thanks Sara!) to make room for a "sponsors" section, so if you interested in advertising to increase blog traffic to either your Etsy store or blog, please click on the link on the right side.

I've also added music back for now. For along time I didn't have it because people told me it was distracting. The thing is, I found this song by two of my favorite artists, Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michelson called "Winter Song". It's one of those songs I could just listen to over and over again, so I really wanted to share it with you, so I hope it's not too distracting.

I also wanted to send a few shout outs to people I admire in blogland.

To Amy from The Maisy Report... for keeping it honest and real.

To Jeanne for really digging into her true artistic side and creating such fabulous things...

To Teresa for being so creative and doing such great furniture upholstery

To Kari at Reese and Marie for her wonderful taste and sense of decorating

and finally to

Lulu for her fabulous personality and all of her amazing creativity!

Jen

Happy 4th of July!!!!

image from Country Living

Have a wonderful Holiday weekend!

Jen

The tale of Jeremy Fisher...

Do you know Mr. Jeremy Fisher? He's a wonderful little chap written by Beatrix Potter. One of my favorite murals I painted was of Jeremy Fisher catching the moon...

We based the colors on the quilt the owner had. We striped the walls and painted a harlequin border.

While the moon was still sleeping...

Jeremy managed to rope him in.

He needed an extra long rope.

Once Jeremy's task was done...

We looked at the dresser...

and thought it needed a coat of paint.

So using the same paints, we came up with a pattern .

And then of course we needed a plaque to finish it off.

Reach for the moon, even if you miss, you will land amongst the stars....

Les Brown

Eggs and fireworks.. who woulda thunk it? they do mix!

Learn how to make these awesome "firework" eggs here for the Fourth of July...

From Grown in my heart

Now tell me, wouldn't those make the most awesomest deviled eggs ever?

Jen

Fantasy shopping!

Let's spice up this Monday morning and do some fantasy shopping. This is going to be for my fantasy vacation to Bermuda so I can pretend I am on a beach somewhere..... I think I need a fun outfit for a hip dinner out. Anyone else want to come?

This shirt from Urban Outfitter's,

With these bottoms. Can I tell you how much I am IN LOVE with these Palazzo pants by XCVI? They might be a little warm for Bermuda, but I am willing to suffer for fashion. If someone wants to send me a free pair; I am not to proud to beg baby....

and pants like that need some hip wedges to go with them from Anthropologie. I am so glad wedges are back in style. It only helps a short girl out...

And I think I'll mix it up with this fabulous fedora? That way, I don't really have to worry about the humidity and my hair. It's not exactly cheating...

How many Margarita's should I order?

Jen

Soups on!

The best thing about Succulent plants is they hardly need any dirt or water...

And you can plant them almost anywhere!

Jen

Welcome to the make-over open house!

Welcome! Link up and show us your make-overs! The only rules are you have to link back to this specific post so people can find it easily (if you are using an old post, please amend it), and put in your specific link to your make-over post, not your blog.

My make-over this month is of an old picture I had laying around. Tres chic in the '90s. Non?

I painted the frame black and used double stick tape to put the book pages inside the matting that was already there.

I just then used more double stick tape to put the bird picture on top! Easy-peasy!

Jen

Just in case you weren't sure...

I have been seeing painters canvas drop cloth's being used in a lot of clever ways all over blogland.

I needed a new valance over my kitchen sink area.

With pretending to be an (messy) artiste, I happen to have quite a few drop cloths lying around.

They have so much potential; like a blank canvas ...

So, just in case there were any questions as to where the dirty plates go; I thought I would clear that right up.

Jen

Happy Monday!

Thank you all for all of the nice compliments about my little nightstand. I had a few questions on how to decoupage the fabric on. You can instructions here on this post. I will also have to add that after you finish the decoupage, to really get that super glossy finished look and durability, you have to follow it with about 12 coats or more of semi-gloss or high gloss polyurethane/ polyacrylic.

We had a crazy weekend around here...

First we had to fix a leak in the bathroom wall..

Then we had a huge storm come through and ended up with this....

But the great news is.. CAMP STARTS THIS WEEK! YEAH! :)

Ready for the make over open house on the 25th? Hope to see you there!

Jen

Religious imagery

Raised as a Polish Roman Catholic, I have always had a fondness for religious imagery and I certainly know how to appreciate a good Mass card or two. I think for me there is something about it that not only can be beautiful, but gives me comfort....My Grandmother's house was religious art floor to ceiling and had everything from a picture of the Pope who's eyes followed you around the room no matter whether you moved, to an Infant Jesus of Prague...

to a HUGE (5 x 7 FEET) picture of Jesus knocking on the door to your heart. When I was little, I alway thought if I were allowed to climb up on her buffet, that I would be able to climb into it, it was THAT big.

Even though I am now more kind of Lutheran (long story), I still carry that love and have a few of her pieces displayed around my home.

This is her and my Grandfather's 25th wedding anniversary blessed by the Pope.

And this plaster framed picture of the Last Supper hung in her dining room and it's now in mine.

And I wasn't sure if I was going to share the next picture because it's so personal to me, but with you girls, I think I can.

This crucifix hung in my father's room when he was a child. It is now in our bedroom, but it has kind of become a very special memorial now. At first I just had my childhood rosary on it, but when my Dad passed 10 years ago, I hung his dog tags on it. Then when my sister-in-law passed, I hung a necklace made from rose petals from her service there. I also have one from my maternal grandmother's service and then I recently added my paternal grandmother's rosary. So even though it was probably a very inexpensive cross when it was first purchased , the value to me now is unmeasurable.

I noticed at The Farm Chicks, a lot of vendors were featuring beautiful religious images in their art.

This necklace that Jackie bought from Lisa Souers is amazing. I wish I had seen it first.

Thank you for the picture Jackie!

And this necklace that Farm Chick attendee Brooke Ahana

made from an old rosary and saint medallions. She showed us some of her things and they were beautiful.

I am starting to see much of it being used, I am wondering if it is going to be one of the next big "trends." Though I kind of think it never goes out of style ;)

Jen

Sometimes the easiest make-overs...

Are just  a bit of fabric and paint away....

Stop back on the 25th for the makeover open house! 

Jen