...I finally did it!!

Can I tell ya just how long I've wanted to do this...?

(here she is after only 5 hours paint time)

To paint this monstrosity of the 80's...

this octopus that inhabited my now pretty frenchy living room...

OK, I have to admit,

it started to look better when all the shades were removed.

Taking this puppy down was just NOT gonna happen.

it is about 5 foot wide and 5 foot tall,

and weighs a ton.

I think it has 23 or 24 candelabras attached.

So my husband found a ladder for me

and held his breath and prayed.

First thing was to clean over 9 years of dust and cobwebs off of it.

Above is the first coat of  "Creamy White" by Behr.

Yessiree girls and boys,

I brush painted this thing...no other choice.

And below is the second coat of a mix of creamy white, black, and almond

to get this yummy gray taupe, medium dark coat.

Dry brushed a sloppy coat.

Next a coat of Creamy White and the Almond (custom color)

dry brushed on top of all that.

Hard to see, but it has great "dimension" and subtleties.

I love this reflection!

Now, this room is about where I envisioned it several months ago.

I'm getting there!

I was so excited to post this I still have paint all over me

and I haven't cleaned up my mess.

more photos this week...!

Moral of this story?

Where there's a will there's a way!

linking up with

And Joy at Thriftin' on a Thursday

Now to see if I can get all this paint off.

xoxo,

An Invitation

If you live anywhere near Southwest Missouri

you'll want to make a plan next weekend

to come to Ozark, Missouri,

and attend

 Leola's Vintage Home and Garden Open House

(images from Open House, 2010)

Thursday evening September 8, 5-8pm

Friday and Saturday 9th and 10th, 9:30-5:00

Sunday 11th, 1-5

Leola's will be closed Sept. 6-8 to prepare.

Located on 17th Street behind Lambert's Cafe

I'll be there with my trusty camera!!

xo,

Still time to enter the Give Away!

The Romantic French Style Give Away

closes tonight at midnight

So you still have time to enter,

Just click HERE!

I have a big project for this weekend,

so keep your fingers crossed!

Hope to share it later!

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration Friday: #53 Stacked Suitcases

Who could imagine that stacking vintage suitcases

could be such a difficult endeavor.

I've had a hard time finding just the right combination,

and I'm sure I'm not finished yet.

I've been collecting vintage suitcases for quite awhile,

but recently while working on the Master Bedroom

I needed some storage for books,

so my brilliant little mind found it's way to the basement

where I loaded up some of my collection

and toted it upstairs.

These two specimens are my latest,

as I'm really being drawn to the linen-y masculine look.

I have several of these train cases in my studio for holding art supplies,

but I knew any stack needed to be topped off

 with just the right little number.

Lovin' this 30's brass plate.

So here they are in the bedroom...

someday I'll do a post on the whole space,

until then just bits and pieces.

Wonderin' why one is backwards...?

well, there are a couple of slanted ones,

that otherwise won't set level.

Who's bright idea in the luggage industry came up with that one?

and one is missing it's leather handle.



Short story here:

Last Thanksgiving we were "babysitting" the grandpuppy (french bulldog)

We were watching TV and I couldn't find Vinnie.

Hubbs said, "Oh, he's right here chewing on one of his bones."

know where I'm going?

Well, it wasn't a bone!

Heck, it was my suitcase handle!

Well, I couldn't be too mad

cause if you think of it,

it was on the floor and smelled like stinky old leather.

Pictures are never good in here because of the low light.

and here are a few other images for inspiration,

all from Pinterest.

the perfect bedside table

And one of my favorite photos from my friends,

Meloney and Brian, from The Seed Box

And speaking of inspiration, here's some from last week:

 Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch 

has a hammock that I could just crawl right into and spend an afternoon.

Daune from Cottage In the Oaks

shows us her book page walls in her Great Room re-do.

I'm a sucker for anything "book page"!!

Melanie from The Frosted Gardener has me all excited about

painting metal chandeliers!

And Faye from Wild Rose Vintage,

just took my breath away with this image.

Doesn't it look like something out of a Ralph Lauren ad?

(fab photography!)

Oh my gosh that scenery!!

If you've ever been featured on VIF

just grab a "Featured on VIF" button on the sidebar.

Linking up with these great parties.

(Links on sidebar buttons)

and a new Potpourri Party

with Honey at 2805.

If you haven't entered the

Romantic French Style Give Away,

you can still enter HERE

Hope you'll link up to the party,

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

Please link up to

 Vintage Inspiration Friday

within your post or a photo button.

Thanks so much!

Hope you have a fun and safe weekend!

love ya bunches,

A Personal Thank You

I just want to take a minute and thank you for helping make

Design Challenge a success.

I started blogging because I wanted to connect with people,

share ideas and inspiration, and feel like I was part of a "community".

If I ever thought it was "all about me" that concept faded fast.

The reason behind Design Challenge

was born out of the idea of helping others.

I knew that there's some amazing talent out here in blogland,

and that we could all share our ideas and expertise,

(or lack thereof)

with our community of blogging friends.

Sometimes we need a fresh approach,

a helping hand,

and a new direction.

Sometimes we need encouragement

and the knowledge that others are willing to walk that extra mile with us.

As I said yesterday to a friend,

"I think a friend along the road to the destination,

makes it a much more enjoyable journey."

So thank you for taking the time to be a part of this,

it's not for me, but for the one that's been brave enough to open up

and say Hey, I need a little help.

Thanks for your wonderful comments,

even if it's just an "atta girl"!

And I want to ask for special prayers

for my dear friend, Anne,

Her mom has undergone surgery

and is in a very serious, fragile state.

Please remember them.

much love,