New Art for the Guest Bedroom

"Children at the Beach"

We did a guest bedroom "redo" recently.  We made the change from a teenage boy's bedroom to a guest bedroom suitable for the long term stay of Jon's mom.  We kept the same furniture (simple pieces that we had bought on Craig's List for Matt, my oldest step-son).  We did, however, change the khaki walls - and one black wall - to a calming pale blue. 


I wanted to go all out and completely redo everything - new furniture, gorgeous toile bedding, you know, the works!!!  But then I thought, stick to a budget, Lisa!!!  So the bedding came from Target.  I think it turned out really well - simple and pretty! 


I have a silhouette of me from when I was a young girl that is framed. It is just such a sweet memory.  My sister, Anita, found these after my Mom passed away and had them framed for each of us.  This little memento - made on simple construction paper - brings me such joy!

The real crowning glory of the bedroom though is the original art that is found above the bed.  My very talented friend, Diane, made this piece for me after I mentioned that I wanted a "beach" picture.  I had seen one at a precious store in Fairhope, AL and while it was beautiful, it was quite expensive!  My sweet friend painted me a picture and brought it to me one day at work!  I was so thrilled!!! 

I set out to find the perfect frame for my new found masterpiece.  This proved harder than I thought.  I finally found the frame I liked, and used my 40 % off coupon at Hobby Lobby to purchase it.  The bad news was that it was dark brown... beautiful, but not the shabby chic look I wanted.  So I sanded it, painted it (Behr Cotton Fluff), sanded again, and then finished with a coat of Minwax Finishing Paste.  I think it turned out so well!!! 

The "before" of the frame.

Painted with Behr Cotton Fluff.

Sanding the frame.

Finish by applying a thin coat of Minwax Finishing Paste. 

The finished frame.

The guest bedroom - calm and peaceful.

Close-up of the little girl on the oil painting. 

Close-up of the frame.

Thank so much to Kim at Savvy Southern Style @ www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com.  I followed her directions from a recent frame "redo".  Her blog is awesome!!  Check it out if you haven't already seen it! 

Please check back in the next few days.  I plan to show other original art that friends have given to me! 

I am linking to Metamorphosis Monday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/. 

Debbie's Newbie Party @ http://www.debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

Amaze Me Monday @ http://www.dittledattle.blogspot.com/

Wow Us Wednesday @ http://www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/



Come join the fun!

Stylish Blogger Award

Earlier this week I received the Stylish Blogger Award from Jodie at Love Laughter and Decor!  I am thrilled!!!  Please check out her blog at www.lovelaughteranddecor.blogspot.com.  Make sure you check out her little girl's nursery!  It is absolutely stunning - truly one of the prettiest rooms I have seen in "blogdom"! 

Rules:

1. Thank the person whom awarded you and link back to them in your post.

2. Tell 7 random facts about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to 7 "new" found bloggers.

4. Contact each blogger and let them know you want to pass the award on to them; 

Nominees, let the giver of the award know you accept the nomination.

Seven Random Things About Me:

1.  I love bracelets!  I don't feel completely dressed unless I have on at least two!

2.  Given a choice, I would choose salty over sweet any day!  I can make a meal of just chips and dip!

3.  I am the youngest of two girls.  My sister, who is only 13 months older than me, is my best friend!

4.  I love anything to do with kitchens!  Williams-Sonoma is my favorite store!

5.  I love being a girly girl!

6.  Fall is my very favorite time of year!

7.  I was a bone marrow donor for my precious niece when she was 17 months old.  She is now 21 and is our walking miracle! 

Seven amazing blogs I am passing the award on to:

http://www.oursouthernnest.blogspot.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://beaucoupjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/
http://dearsweethome.blogspot.com/
Here on Crow Creek

http://www.stillwaterstory.blogspot.com/

Tattered Hydrangea

Please take a moment and visit my nominees.  They are also wonderful!   I know you will enjoy them as much as I do!

Life is Precious

I pulled up one of my very favorite blogs today and the writer had asked for prayer for a family in her area that had just experienced the worst tragedy - a beautiful young mother and her precious 15 month old son had been killed in a car accident earlier this week.  Friends, my heart just broke.  It literally brought me to tears.  I can not even imagine what her sweet husband and her parents are going through right now. 


It was a reminder of how fragile this life is - we are here but for a second.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  I know that deep down, but it is not something that I dwell on.  Perhaps I should.  I think we stay so busy going places and doing things  that we forget how truly special life is - it is not something to be taken lightly.   Each and every moment is to be treasured!  Cherish the time spent with your loved ones. Let your family and friends know you love them!!! 

It is also reassuring to know that while this life is but a brief second, as believers we will have eternity in Heaven.  What a blessing!  What a reunion we will have with all our loved ones who will be waiting for us.  What a wonderful day that will be! 

Hold your family close tonight! 

Mirror Transformation

The "before" picture - a little too gold and shiny for my taste!

I bought a round mirror recently at Hobby Lobby in the clearance section!  I was thrilled with the price, but not the color.  I wanted it to look old and worn so I decided to paint it; however, I couldn't decide what to do in addition to painting - I knew that painting alone would not be quite right.  I was leaning toward just "roughing it up" with sand paper, but Jon suggested glazing it with a dark brown glaze.  I had been wanting to try my hand at glazing so this was the perfect opportunity to learn the process on something really small.  It was not hard at all!  In fact, it was super easy! 

First we removed the back and the mirror very carefully -

the edge around the mirror was chipped. 

Next I sanded the finish lightly with a medium grade sand paper.

The next step was to spray paint with a creamy satin paint. 

(I was concerned about using spray paint,

but the frame was a really hard plastic and it worked well.)

We let the paint dry overnight.

We used a brush to apply the glaze on the beaded

inner edge of the mirror. 

We had to buy a special glaze that would

work with oil based paint. 

I was so glad we told the salesperson what we were painting

or we would have had a mess!!

We used a rag to wipe away the glaze. 

It is starting to look good!

We used a hot glue gun to put the mirror back in the frame.

It is finished! 

A close-up :-)

Once I finished the mirror, it did not look terrific in the area that I had originally planned - over the bed in the guest room.  Jon and I walked around the house for a while trying to figure out where to put our pretty new mirror.  We finally put it in the somewhat neglected back entry way into our house.  This is a small hallway that leads into the house from the garage.  It is the entry we use all the time so Jon thought it was the perfect spot to check my hair "one more time" before I leave the house each day!  What can I say?  He knows me well!!!

I wish I had a more glamorous part of the home to show you, but hey, everyone has a back entrance  where friends and family are welcomed!  Now you have seen ours!  Welcome to our home!  Back door friends are best! 

I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday @ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

and

Debbie's Newbie party at www.debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com

and Kim's Wow Us Wednesday party at www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Come join the fun!  

Happy Mardi Gras!

It has been a while since I last posted.  Things have been SO busy - baseball season has started and that means practice three nights a week!  Working full time and commuting each day (50 minutes each way) , along with being a wife and mother keeps me busy.  :-) Add in baseball or soccer and things really get hopping!  Needless to say, we have been having lots of fast food dinners! 

We are blessed to have a short week this week because it is Mardi Gras!  This is huge where we live along the Gulf Coast in Alabama.  Mardi Gras celebrations are held for many weeks prior to Fat Tuesday!  Jon and I were not really "into" Mardi Gras before we moved to the Coast; however, once you move here you just naturally seem to start incorporating Mardi Gras into your family traditions.  King Cake, parades, and balls are all a part of Mardi Gras!  Now, I am not a fan of huge crowds so we don't go to the downtown area for the parades, but we do LOVE King Cake and Jon and I have gone to a ball the past several years.  I love to dress up, and let's face it, I don't often get a chance to put on a long dress, nor does Jon wear a tux that often!  So that is a real treat!  We have also been to the Biker Ball.  Obviously, the dress is extremely casual, but it so much fun!  We also rode in a motorcycle parade one year.  Being in the parade was a blast!!! 

Seth is out of school and I am off work on Monday and Tuesday.  Jon is off as well so we have been enjoying family time.  Jon helped me complete a project today!  I will post on that tomorrow!  It is so nice to have a husband who takes time to help me when I come up with an idea of something I want to try - we both tackled glazing today! 

So, until tomorrow, Happy Mardi Gras!  Let the good times roll!!! 

Watching the "Call Outs" at the ball! 

Introducing The Mystics!

Mardi Gras wreaths on our front doors - I didn't make them,

but I got a great deal on them!!

Let the good times roll!!!