Chalk Board Project

This is a pretty easy 24 hour project. And the only reason it takes 24 hours is just because the Mod Podge has to dry over night before you
can put another coat on.

Here's what I used:
* One Chalkboard
* Stain or Brown Ink
* One Piece of Scrap Book Paper
* Magnets (mine had to be glued on and
it took about 4 across the top to get it
to stick to the side of the fridge)
* Decorative Appliques ( I ended up using
the two that you see in the finished project,
but whatever you want makes it more personal)

* Ribbon
* Chalk
* Fine sand paper

First I stained the wood frame with the brown ink and let it dry.
Then I simply measured and cut strips of paper to fit the frame. Glued them on and once they were very dry I used the sandpaper to rough up the edges. Then I wen over the paper with the bown ink. I wanted a more aged look. After that I used the mod podge and coated it about 5 times letting it dry in between coats. I glued on the appliques to the front and let them dry. Then glue the magnets to the back, let them dry. To finish, tied the chalk on with my ribbon.

It looks really cute on the side of fridge.

A piece of cake!

Grand Tour of my office....

I have shown my office, off and on, in a couple of different posts, but I haven't ever given you the GRAND tour! Okay... I don't know how grand it really is ... But I like it.



















My daughter sent me all ofthose post card from all over the world!
















I used this little bird cage to hold cards at our wedding.
























I decorated the shade on the Eiffel Tower lamp... Ribbon and buttons. The lamp is still available at Target. The desk top is an uncut door. I painted and decoupaged it after I saw an episode of Decorating Cents years ago.




This table was my grandmother's. It is from the 1800's and has the original finish. The little chair belonged to my husband's grandmother. When we got married he assumed that I would want to throw it away. Silly Hubby! He just doesn't know that a girl only needs an excuse to break out the spray paint! : )















This little bench I decorated to match my desk... I thought it turned out pretty good!



Here's another pic of the desk...













My Hubs made this shelf and another 3 level unit, that is in our family room, when he was sixteen.
That was when they had classes like Industrial Arts and Home Economics.... hehehe...His mom had kept it in the attic all these years and one day a couple of years ago asked him if he would want them back.
He came in with them and said "don't worry honey I'll put them in my office... you don't need to find a place for them... " Well as you can see I painted it black and put it in my office! : )



That dresser I shared with my brother when we were little... My dad refinished it and it is pretty unstablenow. But the wood work on it is very unusual. It was covered in veneer that was peeling. My dad striped it all off, sanded, stained and varnished it. Now I keep table linens in it. The mirror that sits on top is really, really heavy. It also came from one of my grandmothers....



This little tray is actually a picture frame with black paper in it. I put the gold fluer de lis on the magazine folders... I keep every issue of TeaTime Victoria and my favorite Christmas issues of various magazines. Isn't my silver tape dispenser and matching stapler cute?



More up close pics of those Goodwill plates! The little pictures between the sconces are souvenirs from Paris. They are sketches of all the big tourist attractions. I bought them from the artist as he was painting a little girl. He was set up next to the Seine River... I think someday I will go pack to Paris for sure!




I have to let you know that my inspiration for this room came from a lay out in Romantic Country Magazone Summer of 2007. I was just looking at it to give credit to the magazine and realized that the office in the photo shoot belongs to Fifi O'Neil. Who is now the editor of Romantic Country.









That's all... no more...I hope you like my little space. I love being in here and am always adding to it ... Oh and the wall color is Laura Ashely Taupe.

Do You See What I No Sew?

This is a project that I am seriously embarrassed to even call a "project". I mean really! It took 30 minutes.. tops!

About a month ago I was in Goodwill and found this bed skirt. It is from the same Waverly decorator group that I used to decorate my office. I originally purchased the group at Target several years ago and it has long since been discontinued. When I found the bed skirt I was tickled because I don't plan on ever having a bed in the room. I had no idea what I was going to do with it. But it was only $3.99. I couldn't just leave it there. Surely I can use it somehow? Then it occurred to me that I had seen something, somewhere at some point. Can't remember where.And I am the first to admit. I am not very creative. However, I can copy anything.

So! This is what I decided to do.... Put a skirt on my wicker chair.

Before.... cute! right? OOOH! But it can be cuter!

Materials needed.... Glue Gun, Bed Skirt and Scissors.... Ya! That's it!

Turn the chair upside down...

Make sure you have plenty of help... Here my number 1 personal assistant is doing a great job of delegating...

Cut the ruffle away from the main part of the fabric...

Make sure the glue gun is plugged in... Here my number 2 personal assistant assures me that it is.

Glue the ruffle around the inside rim of the seat using the salvage that you left on the ruffle. I started at a back leg to hide where the fabric meets... yet another no sew shortcut. Let the glue cool...

Turn the chair back over! Foof the ruffle... And now it is not just cute... Its SUPER cute!

Thank you to the little people that made this possible... Midge.. Fletch... I couldn't have done it with out your help!