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Monday, September 30, 2013

Mod Mix Monday #121

Painted Puppies
I've been meaning to show this little painting for awhile.
It was sent to me by one of my readers, Karla.
She thought it looked so much like my Violet that she thought I must have it.
It's a vintage painting a friend gave to her and she decided to pass it along to me.
So glad she did!
She has a black and tan longhaired dachshund of her own.
It's really a great painting of a couple of doxie pups.
It's been sitting on my mantle since I got it mid summer....and I recently 
decided to fix an early fall mantel scape around it.
Someday it will be in a more permanent spot but I thought it was very sweet here for now.
I just plopped a few fall things down around it.

My living room is really in a state at the moment.
As I told you I'm painting it.
I began with sanding the windows to paint in a new glossy white.
They are a dull creamy white now.
This painted by a previous homeowner.

I knew there were going to be some spots that the paint might fleck off and cause me a little extra sanding.

But look what has happened!
Apparently, whoever painted this woodwork did not bother to sand them before painting.
The paint is chipping off everywhere but especially in the grooves.
It would have taken perhaps 30 minutes per window to sand and prepare these windows correctly
for painting back when they were first painted.
But whoever did it....didn't bother and now all these years later...I have a huge mess on my hands.

Let the chips fall where they may.
It's going to be hours and hours of work before my windows are 
ready for me to paint.

Anyone got a great solution for this mess?

I am trying to avoid using any toxic paint strippers. 

I'm thinking perhaps I need to invest in a heat gun. 

My simple room painting project has now turned into a nightmare.

Makes me want to cry.

I won't think about it now...let's just look at all the greatness that was linked
up in last week's Mod Mix Monday.
Shall we?
Katie of Upcycled Treasures made this lovely beverage tag for her beverage dispenser.
This is just about the prettiest beverage dispenser I've ever seen and her chalkboard tag is perfect for it.
But what about her candle holders? I love those too...all wrapped in rope. 
Lisa of Create Inspire painted up this pretty dresser.
I love the bold teal color. And you must see a closeup of the knobs.
The knobs are wonderful!
Melinda of The Refeathered Roost came up with a whole story line to explain her Halloween
display. It's creepy and certainly original. Oh...it's pretty too.
Restoration Redoux created this super cute Fall Mantel.
Isn't it fun? I am loving turquoise mixed with orange and brown for Fall.
Denise of Bella Dreams creates the best displays.
This one is no exception. 
Isn't her banner super cute? I love the turquoise urn full of orange pumpkins and berries.
Again, I'm loving turquoise for Fall this year.
Ann of Tarnished Royalty has spun up the most elegant spiderweb ever! 
Including pearl spiders! Not so scary...just pretty.
Just look at Danielle's latest at Finding Silver Pennies!
She painted this piece in Miss Mustard Seed paint.
It's has the perfect amount of chippiness.
Shabby Gals recovered some sad old stools and turned them into these.
Wow! Super Mod Vintage!
And finally....who can resist this face?
That's Cindy's Nora from Old Black Cat Boo.
What a wonderful photo! I love the bight colors around, her expression and those pretty eyes and very pink tongue. 


I can't wait to see how your projects are going this week.
I hope better than mine. 

Share your new mixes below.
Remember anything old made over to be new...anything new changed up to look old.
New and old together...
Please include the Mod Mix Monday logo and back link to me.
Use a permalink to your individual post not to your entire blog.

If you link up...I'd appreciate it, if you'd follow me.

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Open House Sunday

Victorian Cottage
in Sonoma, California
built 1875

This precious black and white victorian is full of quirky victorian details 
with a modern sensibility.
See...quirky!
Huge clock...taxidermy peacock on a stick.
The peacock is gorgeous...but I could not live with any taxidermy. 
I love how big the clock is. It came from a french train depot.
 Cute chairs.
We have some that exact shape at Pier 1. 
They'd need to be recovered to look like these, however.
Sarah...the mistress of the home had the walls spray painted by an artist with
washes of creamy hued paint.
I like the variation in the color on the walls.
It slightly changes from room to room.
The 1940's stove came with the house. 
She added the hood and the Heartland refrigerator. 
The cabinets are painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Gray.
Isn't this an interesting kitchen? Wish I had that stove...oh yes I do.
Lovely breakfast area.
Custom cut mirrors fill an antique window creating a fabulous floor to ceiling mirror.
Above the children's bed hangs a vintage Circus poster.

Read more about this cottage on the Country Living website here.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Fall Garden

I had a fun day on Thursday. My friend Jill and I headed out to shop a little in the afternoon.
First stop was Wilshire Garden Market.
This little garden store always has special things for each season.
We were greeted at the front door by all those wonderful faux pumpkins.

That's a very pretty fall pillow. I can just imagine it in my bench on the front porch.
I especially liked this display of small mercury glass votives on a silver tray.
Oh...I'll be copying this idea in my house for sure!
I love the lamps they carry at the market. These stone baluster lamps are indoor/outdoor. 
The pumpkin pillows would add fall to a garden room.
Here we are with a larger version of the indoor/outdoor lamps.
I really like their chunky shape.
Notice the lamps above in this display?
Sweet little urns create the bases.
These would really look nice on a kitchen counter.
Fun birdcage outdoor pillow.
I found these little gnome house fronts delightful.
Just prop one in front of your favorite tree and it's an instant gnome home. 
Gnome home planter. 
There are lots of fountain pots at the store.
This is a new one.
Love the color combination. That turquoise on top was really vibrant. 
Outside the bougainvillea is doing well. I asked how they wintered it and was told they 
bring it inside into the back storage room near a window.
Outside there were real pumpkins scattered among the pots.
Pretty little fairy house nestled in a pot.
Isn't the plumbago pretty planted in the blue pots?
I adore plumbago! I have two large ones in the corners of my deck.
Anyone have a suggestion as to how I over winter it?

Well, I could have hung out all day at this store but after we did this.
It was on to The Feathered Nest. 

If you live in the Oklahoma City area be sure to run by Wilshire Garden Market. 
See their website - here.
You'll be glad you did. 

Personally, I could hang out on their patio all day.

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