Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Sweet Treats!

It’s time to start thinking about cooking and baking for the Easter Holiday! 

Here’s a funny fact!  We (Heather and I) have pinned 1085 recipes on our Pinterest board called “Yummy” and 91 recipes on our Pinterest board called “Sweet Treats.”

Although Heather has tried out quite a few of the recipes, I have tried a great big whoppin’ ZERO!  Not a single one!  I REALLY don’t like to cook.

I DO LOVE to bake.  But I have a major sugar addiction.  No, really.  MAJOR.  I’m diabetic and I crave sugar like a cocaine addict.  But oh the delicious recipes.

I may have to try a recipe or two this Spring.  And then send the majority of it away…..home….with someone else.

apple snickerdoodle cobbler

Apple snickerdoodle cobbler!  Oh my goodness!  How delicious does this sound.

Or how about……

cherry cheese cake cookies

Yep, you read it right.  Cherry Cheesecake Cookies!  And the color is so pretty.  Perfect for Easter or maybe a birthday party.

lemon burst cookies

Lemon Burst Cookies

Now here is a recipe that Heather has tried.  If I remember correctly, there are only two ingredients.  Cool whip and lemon cake mix.   Then you sprinkle with powdered sugar.   Not too sweet.  These were delicious!  And great with a cup of coffee!

pink lemonade pound cake

Pink Lemonade Pound Cake!  How beautiful would this look on your Easter table?   Maybe decorated with some sweet pansies around the bottom. 

snickers salad

Snickers Salad!

Apparently I am really missing out on something amazing here.  The taste of the tart apples with candy.  And how pretty for Easter to tie your parfait glass with little pink ribbons!

sugar cookie dough

Easy and pretty!  Bake sugar cookies for little cups and fill with fresh fruit.  I think Heather is going to use this one next weekend for a baby shower.  I love this idea and you could top with a little bit of whipped cream and a sprig of mint.

These are just a few of the recipes that I thought would be delish for Spring!  You can find all of the recipes on Pinterest under our “Sweet Treats” board.  Except for the last one, which is pretty self explanatory. 

So there are just a few recipes to contemplate!  Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Denise

Monday, February 25, 2013

DIY No Sew NEST Banner! Tutorial

The sweet little template that I found via Pinterest and talked about in THIS post, inspired me to create a little something to brighten up my dining room!

This NEST banner!

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The entire project was so easy, I thought I would share it with all of you!

Here’s your supply list……..

Scissors, iron,

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Black sharpie pen, seam gauge or ruler.

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Oh my gosh!  I just realized I have the linen pieces  described in FEET!  Obviously, this is incorrect!

Cut the above fabrics as described.   You can retrieve the pattern for the eggs from the post that I linked to above.  And a huge thank you to Nana Company for supplying the template for all of us to use!  There is also a link within the above mentioned  post that will lead you to her blog.  Such cute cute projects! Okay, onward ho!…….

You will also need Wonder Under by Pellon which is a white double sided interfacing.  About 1 yard.

And lastly…….

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Assorted ribbons and twine of your choice.

ASSEMBLY……..

Cut all pieces of fabric in sets of 4 as described above.

Take your four pieces of 2”x2” fabric (I used scrap drop cloth) and stencil on the letters N….E….S….T using your stencil set and your Sharpie.

Cut pieces of Wonder Under in sets of 4.

4 pcs. for the pink burlap

4 pcs. for the light weight cotton print eggs.

4 pcs. for  the N.E.S.T. stenciled letters.

Read the instructions that come with the Wonder Under and iron your piece of Wonder Under on the back of your pink burlap, egg print, and stenciled letter for each banner piece.

Before you begin to assemble your pieces as instructed below, use your seam gauge to line everything up correctly and pin in place one layer at a time.  Iron each layer on separately, then pin and iron the next one on top of the layer under it.  In other words, don’t try ironing it on all at once.  The heat won’t penetrate enough to activate the interfacing.

Now, as per the instructions on the Wonder Under, iron the pink burlap to the back linen piece, iron the egg print on top of the pink burlap, iron the letter on top of the egg.  Don’t worry about the letter being stenciled with the Sharpie, it will iron just fine!  I was worried that the ink would smear, but NOPE!  No problem!

Now assemble your N….E….S….T on your twine.  Ideally, I would have had grommets to use on each banner piece, BUT……I couldn’t find mine!  GRRrrrr!  And I was too stubborn to buy new ones when I had some uuhhh….somewhere.  So I just poked holes through the linen and strung the twine through those holes.  I tied seam binding and a couple of other twines on either end to give it a little extra frou frou!

After all of your layers are assembled with the interfacing, your banner pieces will be nice and stiff so that they won’t curl!

And here is my banner in my dining room!

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F.Y.I the pink burlap came from Hancock Fabrics.  They had just gotten it in, and the color is perfect!

I love the way it looks with my little pink eggs from Target!

Just think of the possibilities with this project!  All Holidays, birthdays, kids rooms!  Have Fun!

Joining Mod Vintage Life

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Denise

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Granny Chic!

Have you heard that design term?  I love it!  It really sums up the style so well.

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Like granny squares.  Okay….I have to admit, I LOVE the granny square throws.  So colorful and kitschy!

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Remember these?  I think everyone’s Grandma had a few in their closet.

Granny Chic is retro, and kitschy, and cute, and cozy.

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It’s collected and crocheted and embroidered.

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With a touch of mid-century mixed in.

It’s a fun weekend at flea markets and estate sales digging and searching for that perfect thing you’re lacking.

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Who could pass up any of these kitchen goodies!

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Or these crocheted hot pads and pillows.

It’s ALL part of the look!

But…….

Is THIS!?

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OMG!  Do you think there’s anything under that throw/top? 

But ooohhh……..ooohhh…….

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Oh yeah!  I’m ordering this ENTIRE outfit!  meowwww…….  I mean, this is soooo me!  HAHA

All images from our Granny Chic pinterest board!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Denise

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Pink For Spring!

I found some sweet little goodies today.  All within just a few miles of home.

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Cute little pink eggs from the dollar bin at Target.

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They’ve already found a home in my dining room in my new cabinet.  In my tiny little tureen.

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And in my little lidded apothecary jar.

And the YUMMIEST pink burlap at Hancock's.

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Along with a few other mini prints.  For?? 

I found the cutest blog the other day through Pinterest! 

Nana Company.

She has such sweet sewn projects and beautiful embroidery.

You can find a page of her free printable Easter templates HERE.

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Aren’t these cute?!  So I’m inspired to do something for Spring and Easter.

Have a happy week!

Denise

Monday, February 18, 2013

New Sconces and Other Stuff!

Here’s how I have Hubby help me complete projects………(Him) “You mind if I play golf tomorrow?”  A mere formality, he’s GOING to play golf.  But…..(Me) “No problem.”    Then I wait about thirty minutes……..”do you think you could hang those sconces for me today?”  

And that’s how it works.  He’s gonna do it because he knows I’ve been waiting forever AND now he can go play golf guilt free!  It works (almost) every time!

So….anywho……I purchased these sconces last summer while vacationing in Wyoming.  To sell.  HA!  But I loved them.  So here they are.  They’re that kinda “you’ll-love-it-or-hate-it, one or the other, décor.

They are so kitschy cute!  And so me!  The shades were formerly on my chandelier.  We had to mount (ha-ha) the sconces on a piece of wood.  They hung so close to the wall, it was the only way that we could add shades.  And they had to have shades.  I’m contemplating drippy hanging crystals?  But then the button shades probably wouldn’t work.  Oh…..they are resin.  Can’t you just see where these probably came from?  Someone’s basement family room with wood paneling, shag carpet, and the old herculon fabric plaid sofa.  Probably in olive greens and browns!

Here’s the other side.  And everything is freshly painted in Ben. Moore White Dove.  I love the color.  A gray base.  What I have had in the past had a yellow base and it was looking tired and well…..a little yellow!

By the way…..this lap and gap cedar was here from a previous remodel, so it stayed.  Although I love the farmhouse look, it’s not what I would have chosen.  It was a BEAR to paint! I had to brush.  Couldn’t roll.  It took FOREVER!

I snapped this pic. of poor old Miss  A. sitting in her chair.  And I mean HER chair.  It’s like her safe zone.  But I noticed the other day that she was having trouble jumping up.  So I decided she needed a comfy place in the floor.  Poor old girl.  I Immediately went the extra mile and tore my entire coffee table vignette apart and made her this.

Out of my grape picking crate.

Complete with down filled pillow.  She climbed right in!  About an hour later I walked in the room…..and she was right back in her chair.   Hasn’t been back in her new bed since.    Well, I tried, huh.

And just one more thing.  I found this print last weekend.  It looks great in the dining room.   Every Spring I seem to begin pulling out the bird nests and birds.   I would show a shot of the entire room.  But not until we paint!

Joining Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life!

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Have a great week!

Denise

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Old Switcheroo! My redo with Maison Blanche Paint!

So here’s how it works with me…..I’m looking at the dining room thinking huummm……that chest has been in the same spot since 19blahblah.  Yep, that long!  What to do, what to do.  I need more space for more junk…..I mean quality collectibles.  Of course a new piece would be nice.  But how about switching the piece in the sewing room with the chest.  It would need to be repainted.  For the billionth time.  It was currently grey with red accents.  So I wanted it done NOW.  As in YESTERDAY!  Because once I commit to a change, I want it done immediately.  The walls will be next and will be painted a pale gray.

So Heather helped me decide on Maison Blanche La Craie furniture paint in…..

Pecan for the outside.  And Sugar Cane for the inside and shelves.

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Pecan is a beautiful milky chocolate brown.  And Sugar Cane. Oohhh……Sugar Cane!  The most gorgeous pale whispery Robin’s Egg blue.  I also decided on Jolie Blonde for an accent color on the trim.  A pale beautiful yellow.

I can tell you that this paint is AWESOME!  Thick but silky and it goes on like a dream.  And NO dripping.  This is huge for me.  I normally end up with paint all over the floor.  Drop cloth or not.

I already knew that I wanted a chippy, sanded, old world, farmhouse look for this piece.  I was in luck, because there were several colors that would show through beautifully when I sanded.

So here’s a little how-I-did-it……

I always, as in always, use a cheapo chip brush when I paint.  I don’t want my pieces to look perfect when I’m through.  In fact, not long ago, I invested in a  Purdy brush.  I hate it.  The only problem with the chip brushes is all of the stray bristles.  Keep an eye out for those.

With La Craie paint, no prep or sanding.  So I was good there.

I did one coat of the Pecan on the outside because I was going over gray.

I did two coats of Sugar Cane on the inside because I was going over a dark Walnut stain. 

If you don’t have perfect coverage, or you miss a spot, don’t stress.  Sanding covers a multitude of mistakes.

After the inside was dry, I went back over it with a combination of Sugar Cane and Jolie Blonde.

I loaded my brush like this….

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Then you brush on in spots.  Until your brush is unloaded.

The area you are working on will look like this…..

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Then you dry brush all of the areas where you applied paint.  This just gives another dimension to your piece and adds to the authentic vintage look.

On the trim, I haphazardly applied the Jolie Blonde.  Because you are going to do a fair amount of sanding here.

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Before sanding, you trim will look like the example above.  You can see that I missed quite a few spots and even applied it quite thinly in other areas.

But after sanding…….

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All of those yummy colors peeking through!

So you’re sanding and your first instinct is to clean off all of that paint residue  as you go.  …..Don’t.  Leave it where it lands.   Why?

Now it’s time to wax.  I used Maison Blanche clear wax.  It actually was an experiment, leaving all of the sanded paint residue.  But as I began to apply the wax, a lot of the residue fell off anyway, but some bits and pieces gathered in corners.  It looked awesome!  Just like a piece that had been pulled out of an old house and cleaned off.  But some of that gunk had gathered in the corners and just couldn’t be removed.

Let your wax dry and then buff.  The more you buff, the higher the sheen.

DONE!  AND I am happy happy with the way this piece turned out!

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From the minute I sat that first white ironstone platter in my like new cabinet, I was in LOVE!

dining eggs

dining tulips

dining side view

I’ll be happy when that black and caramel wall is gone.

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dining shelf

dining top shelf

Everything should show up so much better with pale grey walls.

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Extra plates in a locker basket.

dining overview

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Finished and styled!   And my metal cow corbels already look better!

Heather and I sell Maison Blanche paint in our area.  I highly recommend it.  It is a wonderful high quality product and you will fall in love with the huge selection of wonderful colors.  We welcome your questions and would love to hear from you.  Please e-mail us!

Happy Valentines Day!

Denise

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