A Little Table Painting Project

So yesterday you saw my newly painted kitchen table, and today, I thought I'd give you details about this little project. 

Of course, I forgot to take an official "Before" picture, so I had to dig one out of my files.  This at least reminds us that the table was black.  It was originally black when my mom found it at the thrift store several years ago.  She used it in her laundry room.  Then she gave it to my sister for her dining room.  Then Sister got a bigger dining table and I happily inherited it.  The black was not bad, but it was also not very much fun.

 

To paint it I first put on a coat of this wondrous primer that requires zero sanding.  It is oil based, so I recommend buying a cheap brush for a couple dollars that you can just toss once you're done versus having to hassle with gasoline or mineral spirits.   I got mine at Walmarts for $2.50, but I would recommend pulling gently on the brush hairs to remove any loose strands before you begin as I had some hairs come off in the paint - not fun to fish those out.

I got the paint at Lowes .  Used their Valspar brand - one quart in High Gloss so as to make the paint as durable as possible. The color is called "Fish Story"- are you charmed?

The table took one coat of primer and two coat of paint.

{additional notes: I used the same high-density foam paint roller that I used on the closet stenciling project to make the paint nice and smooth on the top}

After the last coat I let it stand for about 48 hours (more couldn't hurt) to let the paint harden before bringing it inside and setting things on it.

Used some of those little dollar pails from Target to keep coloring supplies handy.

Really a simple, easy project with a fresh, cheering impact. 

What little piece of furniture could use a fresh coat of lovely paint this weekend? 

Now's the time before the weather gets too chilly!

See other favorite projects {HERE}

{Linking to Tatertots & Jello, Friday Furniture Feature,  Serenity Now,  

Just a Girl & ; Bowl Full of Lemons

Home Made Lovely Tour

Good morning!  

Today I'm so tickled to be giving a little tour of my home at Heather's blog for her Home Made Lovely series.  Heather is the most adorable ever and I love the sweet, joyful, encouraging spot she's created over at Life Made Lovely. 

  Here's a little sneak peak of the tour.  Yes, I did just paint that table teal - more on that later.  For now you can click the Lovely button above and go have yourself a looksie!

Wednesday Walkabout

....with an old toy truck. 
 

That this little boy loves to push around.

Uphill and down.

Wishing you some simple joy today.

{Linking to Lollipops}

Found It!

My very own, worn and rusty, typewriter.

 

Is it just me or does she look pretty from every angle?

Awhile back I passed by an old grey Royal at the thrift store because it seemed a bit pricey.  It was just like like my letter-writing grandma's, and I heartily regretted it almost immediately.   

This weekend I got on Craigslist to look at garage sale adds, which I've only done once or twice.  I saw one that listed "antiques" and "vintage" - no listing of a typewriter, but I had an intuition.  

Friday morning I loaded up the kiddos as fast as I could manage three little pairs of socks and shoes and followed my map to the sale.  

This was the first thing I spotted and I didn't hesitate a moment...to snatch it up and ask for a deal...got her down to $20.  Still a good bit, but I was smitten.

She now has a substantial presence here, atop the roll-top desk. 

I'd still love to find an grey Royal like my grandma's.

But in the meantime, 
I'm feeling quite content with this old beauty.  

Hope you all had a lovely weekend - I'll be posting photos of my Fall Mantel tomorrow!

{Linking to Southern Hospitality}

Fall Framed Mantel

I loved challenging myself this season to come up with something unique for a fall mantel.

Though to be honest, I tried a bunch of odd ideas before I came up with this!

Simplicity with open frames, a clock, my fall wreath, and some pumpkins and wheat.

Here's my little fall wreath tied to an open frame.  The tutorial is {HERE}.

All the frames were either from garage sales this summer, thrifted or from Hobby Lobby.

I added an old mirror inside of one to add a little light/reflection to the arrangement. 

I just used an assorted bag of white and orange pumpkins from Lowes.  I just pressed the white one down on the stem of the orange one underneath to stack them.

Very pleased indeed with my blue pumpkin I actually spotted at walmart.

The little doilie is held up with sticky tack - just right for a little open space.

{Linking to The Lettered Cottage, Tatertots & Jello
Just a Girl, Funky Junk Interiors, and Serenity Now}

Loving These Colors

Just brought back this autumn loveliness from the store.  
Loving the blue/gray pumpkin with the muted yellow/orange mums.  

Oh sweet Fall, you are here!

Found some garage sale goodness this morning which I'll be sharing with you next week 
as well as some paint projects....which I'm off to tackle now!

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

 

Exceedingly Good Oatmeal Cookies

 At no other time of the year does some oatmeal sweetness seem more "right" than in the Fall.  

It's a perfect match for cooler, cozier days. 

  Today I'm sharing my all-time favorite absolutely delicious Oatmeal Cookie Recipe.  

 The secret to this recipe is the soaking of the raisins.

 "the best" Oatmeal Cookies

3 eggs, well beaten

1 cup raisins

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups oatmeal

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1. Combine eggs, raisin, vanilla and let stand for one hour, covered with plastic wrap. 

2. Cream together butter and sugars. 

3. Add flour, salt, cinnamon and soda to sugar mixture. Mix well.

4. Blend in egg-raisin mixture, oatmeal, and chopped nuts.  Dough will be stiff.

5. Drop in heaping teaspoons onto cookie sheet or roll into balls and flatten slightly.

6. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

See my other tried-n-true recipes {HERE}.

Hope you enjoy!

P.S.  Had to add a little FYI - I was just at Target and they have some great clearance stuff right now.  Tons of great deals in bedding: items from Shabby Chic, Fieldcrest, and kid's bedding 75% off.  And be sure to check out those endcaps!





{Linking to Bowl Full of Lemons}

Time to Write a Note

If you're like me, you have family and friends that you love very much indeed, but don't get to see very often.  

Perhaps even you didn't see them the whole summer long!  Oh dear.

Well then, it is high time we jotted them a little note.  Who doesn't love to get a letter in the mailbox? 

Make their day by including a few summer photos of  your kiddos, your family, or your nice little pet.

I like to add a white border around the photos, like I do for my Photo Gallery, as it seems to make the picture feel more like a Gift - like it would look pretty on a bulletin board.  This is easily added at a print shop online like Walgreens or you can add it beforehand with Picnik (Go to "Edit" and "Frames").

 A few years ago I got these little note cards that have a frame in the front you can slide a picture into.   They're nice as the recipient has the option to take the photo out if they like.   Surely they would be easy to make.  But today we're not exactly about creating, we're about writing.

   Resist the tendency to get weighed down with sheets of stationery and lists of things to catch up on - unless you have some extra time, then by all means write on!  

I try very hard to remember that a short note, is better than no note.  Consider sticking to your sweet-n-small cards and getting a nice stack of cheerful notes written in one sitting.

Also consider doing this again sooner than later.  :)

{note to self}

For an extra little boost you might enjoy reading 

"Letter Writing: A Daily Opportunity" {HERE}

A New Word for My Everyday

For awhile noticed myself "flapping" a bit more than is quite normal for me, or acceptable.  My voice seemed to have adopted a permanent higher decibel when addressing wayward little people.  I was just generally more easily stressed, irritated and worn out. 
 It was taking less to bring me to a point of utter exasperation.

Then I wrote this word on my chalkboard and I was cured!  Ha. 

But really, this bolstering word has lately been serving as a pointed reminder that God is in control and fully aware - and even allowing for my good - the whining, the pee all over  the floor, the irrational meltdown at the check-out counter, the whole family sick with the flu.  Believing this gives me peace and a gracious calm to meet whatever the day brings, not excepting red lipstick on linen pillow shams.

Really my main object in this post is to send you over to sweet Betsy's blog.  Betsy brought the word to my attention and encouraged my heart much in her post found {HERE}.

Botanical Book Page Wall

I've finally been giving my master bedroom some much needed attention.  
First on the agenda was to address the big wall above the dresser in a collage-type way. 
I loved this project because almost everything I used was thrifted.

My initial inspiration was this book I happened upon at the thrift store:  A Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.

It really is a lovely book, so I felt a little reluctant to tear it to bits until I found another copy just last week!

Taking it apart was really quite easy after that.  To get double pages to hang without tearing the middle, I simply used a knife to cut the binding threads that show up every few pages.  Like so...

The focal point of the collage (though purposely off center) is this thrifted mirror I found awhile back that used to hang by our back entry.

Then I added these second-hand frames, and a piece of gate iron from New Orleans. The gold frame was very dull so I spruced it up with a bit of Rub-n-Buff.

On the other side I have a pair of Wallace Netting photos my parents gave when we got married. This one is "Honeymoon Drive".  The other is "Honeymoon Windings".  

Just for fun, here's a before picture of this same wall.

And "After".

Liking a little more personality, whimsy and lovely on the wall.  

Hope to show you the whole room soon!

{Linking to Southern Hospitality, Bowl Full of Lemons 
Tip Me Tuesday  Life Made Lovely , Thrifty Decorating, Primp,
& Blue Cricket Design}

And We're Down for the Count...

As in, the Kleenex box is super popular.  As in, Echinacea Tea is my new diet staple.

As in, we're starting cold & flu season off with a bang. 

So now to play the Glad Game.

Glad that it's supposed to be warm and sunny tomorrow.

(So) Glad that my kind in-laws are here and are keeping the kiddo's spirits wonderfully high (though it's sad that they came all the way from Indiana to hang out with sickies)

Glad for my (healthy!) husband who made yummy chicken tortellini soup for us sickies tonight - such a nice guy I have.

Didn't get to my own gallery projects this week, so I thought I'd share some pics, hopefully for our mutual inspiration.

I think this would be so fun...

Love the depth created with the frames and chunky clock.

Noticed the door knobs - would be fun to use some funky/pretty ones from Hobby Lobby.

 Love the branch in front.

 {All pics from potterybarn.com}

I may be back before the weekend is out, but if not, 

I will hope to see you busy and glad on Monday morning.