adventures in art & decor
This Week’s Thrifty Finds
Jul 30th
So, after working on getting the house straight before we leave for vacation, I decided I just HAD to get out of the house. And where else would I go but thrifting! The only kiddo that was willing to go on this adventure with me was Kinley, my (step)daughter. She’s a great shopping companion!
We found this antique brass umbrella holder. I think he’ll be cleaned up and added to our eclectic finds store.
We also found these beauties! Hand-blown glass vases for $4.25 each. Having seen the kilnworking students creating such unique pieces at VCU, I’ve definitely gained appreciation for the work that goes into it. Such a steal at that price! I had to bring these guys home. Besides, they’ll look great when we re-do our master bedroom this fall.
Then we headed over to the book section…
This was Kinley’s find of the day! She is trying to be an exchange student to France this coming spring so this will definitely come in handy. Fortunately she’s a thrifty little lady too and refused to pay for a new one. $1.00! Love it.
I picked up this book, The Healthy Home Workshop, by Kimberly Rider. I’m always looking for tips on creating an environmentally friendly home. It’s chocked full of helpful tips on creating a toxin-free home and using natural materials.
And last but not least I added Real Simple, The Organized Home to our loot. The book goes space by space (closets, drawers, pantries, rooms, etc.) giving helpful organization tips.
I would say we had a successful thrifting day and lots of fun together, just us girls!
I’m linking up to Leigh’s Thrifty Thursday party over at Tales From Bloggeritaville andKate’s Flaunt it Friday! Come join in the fun!
5 Ideas For Decorating French Doors
Jul 28th
French doors can be a challenge to decorate. But don’t be intimidated by the task! You have choices that will help you create a cohesive look in any space. Let’s take a look!
Bamboo or Roman Shades can add an casual feel to a room such as in this dining room from Betters Homes and Gardens. Pulled up they can let in tons of natural light, while being down they block light and offer privacy.
Sheer Door Panels add a classic look to a space and allow abundant natural light in.
Plantation Shutters such as these from Exciting Windows just scream ocean retreat. They offer complete privacy and block out light very well.
A simple set of Drapery Panels can easily tie a room together. Look at how these drapes coordinate perfectly with the bedding. What a cozy room! If you want to block out natural light and add energy efficiency, you can choose either the blackout curtains or energy efficient panels.
Combining Drapes and Shades adds such a sophisticated look to a room, like this combination from Pottery Barn. I love that layered look.
So, choose the look that works with your space and GO FOR IT!
Giveaway over at Urban Farmgirl!
Jul 24th
Hop on over to Urban Farmgirl and help Mary celebrate her 100th post! Mary is pairing up with WhiteFlowerFarmhouse.com to offer readers the chance to win a $50 gift certificate! How cool is that?!
What fabulous looking goodies! So please stop by Urban Farmgirl and join in the fun!
Cathy
Glass Act-Choices In Handcrafted Glass Chandeliers
Jul 21st
I came across this amazing kitchen design by Pitsou Kedem in Architectural Digest yesterday. My eyes were instantly drawn to that magnificent glass chandelier hanging over the dining area. (Sorry, I couldn’t find a close-up of it.) It’s constructed of interlocking glass loops and exquisitely handcrafted. Seeing this article inspired me to research other handcrafted glass chandeliers.
This piece is a Suzanne Guttman Glass creation. The delicate hanging mechanism and minimal metalwork allow the glass to stand out.
In contrast, in this piece by Elizabeth Lyons of Lyons Glass the metalwork plays an important role as the armature, tying the piece together. The metallic of the steel and glass are simply grand on this small piece.
This gorgeous opalescent and clear glass chandelier from Red Fern Glass is simply stunning. Oh how I wish I had the space for such a piece.
So here’s hoping you find inspiration today, even in the seemingly small places!
A Welcoming Sign-Literally
Jul 19th
One more addition to our front porch makeover!
I decided to add a vinyl decal to the front door for the final touch! I’m just giddy over how awesome it turned out! It really is all the little touches that make the entrance more inviting and welcoming don’t you think?
I ordered the decal from Household Words. Mandie was wonderful to work with, even answering my silly questions prior to my order! She even provided quick delivery and great installation instructions (especially for a timid DIYer like myself!). Mandie offers a wide variety of decals for every area of your home.
From mailbox monograms…
to children’s room decals…
and spaces between!
Something to consider when you’re adding those personal touches to your home. Happy decorating!
Cathy
Sunflower
Jul 17th
Over the years I have developed an eye for black and white photography, however, being half of Artisticblend is really making me explore different aspects of photography.
While at the local South of the James Farmers Market, we passed by these sunflowers. Their color really caught my eye. I felt this was a perfect opportunity to try out some color play. So we bought the sunflowers and took them home. I created a little studio set up with my new lights and fabricated backdrop. I was hoping to get a clean white background with bold crisp color of the flowers popping out at the viewer. I got the bold crisp flowers, but the background was a little less then clean white.
So,I found out I have a lot to learn. I played around with the images in color for an hour, but no matter what I did to it I could not get it to look like the image in my head. The entire series was shot…no pun intended 
Bound and determined to not let the shoot be a complete disaster, I reverted back to my old ways. Ahhh…black and white…my comfort zone. I took my favorite picture out of the series and started playing with it. In minutes I was able to get an image I’m happy with.
Even though this shoot did not turn out as desired I refuse to give up. I already have ideas of what to do next…just need more flowers!
Wired Whimsy Giveaway at Decor Chick!
Jul 15th
Emily over at Decor Chick is having her first sponsor giveaway! How exciting!
Decor Chick sponsor, Wired Whimsy is offering this awesome GIVEAWAY! So hurry on over and join in the fun! The giveaway will wrap up this evening!
You Can Ring My Bell
Jul 15th
Ok, now that we all have that 70′s hit by Anita Ward stuck in our head, let’s boogie on down to my front door.
Ummmm…..yep. That was our yellowing, not-so-stylin’ doorbell. Not so groovy, huh?! It really seems to stand out, especially after all the recent porch updates. Funny how I never even paid attention to the doorbell before. But I couldn’t let this little guy ruin all my hard work.
So the Hubby and I started looking for a replacement. We found this brassy fellow at Amazon.
Pretty groovy huh?! Much better than before.
Here are a few things to think about when replacing your doorbell:
- Look for something that compliments your home’s style well.
- Make sure the new door bell will fit properly next to the door frame. (We were just about to order a different doorbell that was much wider and realized how close the builder had placed the original doorbell to the frame. Ugh!)
- As with any electrical project, please be sure to turn off all power to the doorbell prior to beginning the replacement process.
Now, off to find my iPod and get this song out of my head!
Bobblehead Bowl Makeover
Jul 6th
This little guy was sitting on the shelf at Goodwill looking all lonely. I thought he was just too darn cute to leave there. He’s got a bobblehead and ears! Too funny. But just a little dull of a paint job.
Meet Mr. Jake! He’s one of our three rescues and a very important member of our blended family. I thought just maybe Mr. Jake could be my inspiration for a makeover of the bobbleheaded bowl.
Here he is, Mr. Jake, the Bobbleheaded Bowl! What do you think?!
Things may be a little quiet around here for the rest of the week. We heading to Massachusetts to pick up my beautiful step-daughters and then heading for New York City for a few days!!! Have a wonderful week and keep the creative juices flowin’!
I’m linking to these parties! Check out some other bloggers and their amazing work!
and
Three or More Tuesday at The Gypsy’s Corner
Hanging Basket Revamp
Jul 6th
I picked up this metal hanging basket at a thrift store a while back for a dollar. Though she looks pretty rough, I thought she had potential.
After lots and lots…..and LOTS of sanding, I was able to remove the many layers of paint and glazes. This little basket was suffocating under all that stuff!!!
But after a couple fresh coats of spray paint and beautiful (fake) flowers from Michael’s, she’s lookin’ pretty spectacular don’t you think?
I hope you’ll come back tomorrow. I have another spray painting, thrifted project to share!
I’m linking up to the following blog parties! Please check out these other blogs for other exciting projects!
and
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch
and
Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville
Thank you for stopping by!
Cathy
What others are saying