DIY Junk Sign

 Man, It's been a while since I've done a project! I felt pretty good this past couple of days and decided to make this little sign as a gift for a dear friend (don't we all need a reminder to keep dreaming??) I've always admired the 'altered' signs, I just think they look really cool...and it was really easy once I gathered everything I needed. Lucky for me, we went to the Joplin Vintage Market this past weekend and there was a fantastic vendor that had practically anything you could need in salvaged goods (most of them did). Letters, old license plates, chandy crystals, marquee signs, toys, books....all sorts of things. I spent some time picking out letters to spell 'Dream'. The 'D' is not old, I picked it up at Hobby Lobby to mix it up even more and add a little dimension.

So a few things you'll need...although you can completely customize and change it to fit what you find, or the word you chose.

-A mix of letters spelling your choice of word

-A piece of pallet wood or salvaged wood that is big enough for your word

-2 New or old knobs (optional)

-Jute twine (optional)

-E6000 (or your choice of glue)

 

 Letters:

 Pallet wood:

 Place the letters fairly centered  and straight on the board (or slanted would be neat too) and glue them in place.

 The license plate letter I picked out was a little too big, but a a pair of pliers bent it around the board and it worked out pretty good.

 I found the glass knobs at Hobby Lobby and used them as a means to hang the sign. This is completely up to you though, a saw tooth hanger on the back works just as well. Measure enough jute twine to hang the sign and tie around the knobs.

 Was that easy or what? :)

 I think the only thing that would present a challenge is finding a variety of letters.

 I hope she likes it.

 ***

 I want to thank you all for the love and support in light of my recent news...as far as how I've been feeling, I've had some good days and bad days (don't we all?!). Shortness of breath and general abdomen pain is a constant...but that is where the tumors are, so it's to be expected. The trial at MD Anderson will hopefully be starting soon. I learned last week that they have temporarily put it on hold, but I'm praying whatever problems they are having that it works out before I am suppose to go back. Again, thanks for the thoughts and prayers, it means a lot to me.

In kitchen news, the cabinets are all purchased and Justin will be putting them in soon and then I'll be painting them....it's going slower than expected, but that's ok. 

I've also started thinking about Fall for my booth space and really excited about the plans I've got scheming! It is crazy to be thinking of Fall in 90+ degree weather, but I absolutely have to plan ahead. I found a book shelf (about 5' high) that I can't decide whether to paint or not and I'm revamping the armoire that  use to be in Logan's room when he was a baby. Lots of little things happening all at once, some things never change.

Logan's Room: Vintage Camp

If your children are anything like mine, they are 'into' everything. Dinosaurs, cars, Thomas, and a whole host of other toys and characters. So picking a theme isn't always easy. You want it to be fun and functional, with plenty of storage, a place they can call their own without going overboard. If I had to call this current look anything, maybe a loose camp feel?

I've been working in Logan's room trying to get things more organized and editing clothes and toys before school starts next month!! Wow! Where did the summer go???

Logan's room has always been vintage based and when he was super young I had picked out 'Lil' Cowpoke' fabric as an accent. Now that he is older, a little more mature look is in order.
This is a dresser my in laws gave me. I was thinking of painting it, I even feel a little silly showing you, but I didn't do anything to it except polish it! Once it got in here, the light pickled look was great and even seemed to be the same shade as the burlap pennant garland...so it made no changes whatsoever. Shocker.

Two vintage lamps that I picked up (new shades from Lowe's), they add a lot of light and height. I did a collage over the dresser consisting of things I've collected over time, all vintage except for the black frames. I put some of Logan's blocks in the old print block tray, old license plate, a watercolor from the flea market, matted and framed. I made his name banner a while back, it use to hang over the window, but I decided to try it over the collage for some layering. Not traditional kid's art, but I love the mix and there is growing room...I'm sure I'll pick up other things along the way.

We moved Logan into a twin bed (from a race car bed), especially after I found a twin head board and foot board. Literal curbside find. I couldn't believe it. The wood was pretty dried out and washed out and I decided to freshen it up with paint. I kept the linens pretty neutral, i.e. no character bedding. Mostly navy and orange. Vintage camp blanket (you've seen that blanket used in tablescapes :) Navy comforter from Walmart, ticking pillow I made a long time ago, striped pillowcase and euro sham from West Elm.

Here is the before of the spindle bed:

And after three cans of black spray paint:

  I ordered this rug from Overstock and I absolutely love it.

It is described on the website as being southwest, but I think it looks like camp/vintage. I really love how it picks up all the colors in the map wall

I found this orange metal chandy at a flea market in Bella Vista, Arkansas a couple of years ago. It's got to be from the 70's....Justin put it up for me a while ago. It looks pretty campy doesn't it? :)

The only thing I'm waiting on is this fabric from fabric.com, as soon as it comes in, I'll be making curtain panels. I would  also like to find a small round side table to use as a nightstand, something wooden.

Other than that, I think we are pretty close to to done!

Joining Emily A. Clark

Vintage Camp Blankets

I have always loved vintage blankets. I lovingly call them camp blankets although it's been years since I've gone camping, but they make me feel like I want to go camping! I think this picture epitomizes the feeling very well.

Via
I have run across some great blankets in the past and am always on the hunt for new {old} ones. I haven't had a lot of success locally, so I hit Etsy up to see if I could find some.

I love letting blankets inspire tablescapes.....

You might remember the tablescape I did with this blanket last year.....

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Lo and behold, I spied one just like it!

Vintage Yellow and Brown Blanket

This was another popular tablescape that I used a blanket with. Although I didn't find the exact one, I did manage to find some great red ones.

A Natural Christmas Tablescape

I thought this one was great

Vintage Red Plaid Blanket


and this one is still in the package! Hmmm, I wonder what the story is on that?

Vintage Red and Black Blanket (Still in package!!!)

So have you come across any great camp blankets lately?

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

Living Room Changes

I told you yesterday how excited I was to have found a vintage painting of the ocean. I decided that I wanted it to be featured on the mantle, so a little rearranging was in order. You know how that always happens...I'm a perpetual accessorizer (is that a word?)

Of course since I only dust biannually, I had to do the cleaning that goes along with the rearranging. ;)

It had all started with the bookcases anyway, so the end result was a nice and tidy room that lasted ohhhh, about the length of time that it took to take the pictures and it was back to normal. But at least I have documented proof that it is capable of looking nice. :)

I found a nice and simple black frame in my thrifted frame stash, I just left the glass out of it and the painting looked great.

I changed out the vase, simplified the flowers, added thrifted candle holders and placed the painting. I immediately loved the look.

Whoever the artist is, they did a great job, it's hard to capture crashing waves correctly in paint. I know, I've tried!



Daisy decided to go sleep somewhere else, so I put one of my favorite pillows in the chair. Yes, that's the same chair I showed you months ago that I have yet to chose fabric for. Shame on me.

Next, I accessorized the coffee table. I love having a round coffee table in front of the sectional, it seems more natural to me, but sometimes round tables can be a challenge. Here I used a round bowl (with shell balls), a round mossy ball, and for height a round cylinder vase. I know you've seen me use my vases 101 thousand different ways, and here is the 102nd. Three little taper holders take on a whole new look placed together inside a vase. To anchor them and keep them from wobbling around, I used river rock.

I don't know if you can see it well enough or not. Books always make sense on a table, the square shape offsets the round shapes. Finally, something organic, like my tigerlillies. While these are permanent botanicals, they still make a great statement.


I love how my new old painting looks and I will definately be on the hunt for more. Thanks for stopping by, I hope your inspired!

Want to see a few more pictures? Check out my photostream HERE.

Look What I Found!

I couldn't wait to show you what I found this past weekend! An unframed original piece of artwork of my favorite subject, the ocean. I have been enamored with vintage paintings for quite some time. I have NEVER EVER found any until this weekend!

I also found a smallish watercolor and grabbed it up too. I think it is so fantastic!
They are both signed, by some unknown artist. I just love how both the paintings feel, some story that I'll never know, some cast offs from a painters sketchbook. I love to think there is some mysterious and sentimental story attached to each one. I wonder what it is! :)

I can't wait to find a frame to put my new artwork in. I'm quite sure I will find something in my stash of thrift store frames to fit it.
I will probably have to go get some matting cut for the watercolor.

Do you like to collect old paintings?
Did you go thrifting or Antiquing this weekend? What did you find?

Candy Kitchen

If you have one or several of these running around, I know you just can't help having a fun and whimsical Christmas dedicated just for the kids (even the one in you). So with my helper in tow, we created a little whimsy in the kitchen/eating area.

Candy canes and lollipops, gingerbread men and ladies, deck out the painted white shelf hanging on the wall in the kitchen.

Isn't she so cute with her green bow and ruffly dress?

I put a tree next to the china hutch, full of candy and gingerbread ornaments.

Have you seen this type of paper garland at Pottery Barn and other places? I made my own, punched circles out of reversible scrapbooking paper and sewed them together. I decided to hang it on the tree.

Last year after Christmas, I picked up a Christmas dinnerware set (like I need one more set of dishes) from Martha Stewart. It has a beautiful holly pattern and I blended it in the hutch with my everyday Gibson. I've done a tablescape with these so look for that tomorrow. I've been collecting "candy" for years and I displayed them in glass apothecary jars, it looks real and certainly last longer! :)

Some favorite ornaments

Gingerbread man, I just love this pair!

The advent calendar hangs in the kitchen too. Justin's Grandmother made it, circa 1985.

I hung vintage stockings with suction cups on the glass of the hutch, I added cedar and made the little felt poinsettias. I put a clothes pins on the back so they can go anywhere. I used a bottle cap for the center!

I just love felt!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you are inspired!

Here are some articles you might have missed:

O Christmas Tree 2010

Mini House Tour 2010

Christmas Mantel 2010

Joining Nester

Joining Gina

All Things Heart and Home