A 20th Century Rocking Horse Make-over

Hello Everyone!  My inspiration for this next project came right from the front cover of the Spring issue of Country Home magazine. 

I don’t normally buy this magazine but there was something about that rocking horse and how it was displayed that I just LOVED.  So in the shopping cart it went.  When I got home I searched for my daughter’s rocking horse that she received for her 1st Christmas in 1988.  I found it in the attic.    

I immediately called my daughter Lauren, who now lives in North Carolina with her military husband, and asked her if I could paint her rocking horse.  She laughed at me and said she could not believe that I still had it but that I could do whatever I wanted to it.  With having her permission, out came the ASCP old white, graphite, Folk Art Crackle Medium and the dark wax.  I got busy painting! 

Now that he’s all done, I placed him on top of our entertainment center in the family room. 

  He’s definitely not the 19th Century rocking horse that is on the front cover of Country Home’s but I think he looks cute with his new 21st Century make-over!

I love how the crackled medium worked with the ASCP. 

I cannot believe that this rocking horse will be 24 years old this Christmas! 

I would have taken a full view picture of the entertainment center but it was hockey day yesterday (Washington Capitals were playing) when I took these pictures and my husband was glued to the tube.   There are only certain times of the day that you can take pictures in there and it just so happened it was when the Capitals were playing! 

Oh and by the way, Lauren came home this weekend for a short visit and she absolutely loved what I did with her rocking horse! 

As always, thanks for your visit and your sweet comments.  They are always appreciated. 

Gail

P.S.  I just wanted to let you know,  I LOVED this magazine!  It was full of inspiration. 

I will be sharing this post at:

Debbie Doo’s for the Copy Cat Spring’tacular Party

Three Mango Seeds for Do It Ya Self

Knick of Time for Vintage Style Link Party

Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesday

Spring and Summer Mantel Shelf and a Pig with Wings

Hello everyone!  With signs of Spring everywhere, it was time to change the mantel shelf in the family room from Winter to Spring.  Especially since I just heard that the temperatures this week are going to be soaring into the 70’s.   

This time around I wanted to go with a country farmhouse feel with the mantel.        

Most of the things I used were things I already had except for the galvanized tins.  I bought them 40 percent off at Michaels.  I made the topiaries you see inside the tins.

Of course changing things on the mantel shelf meant that changes to the sitting area were inevitable.  This is what the area looked like before….

…and this is what it looks like after I made changes. 

I made new chair slip covers and the burlap table topper.  I purchased the pillows at Kirkland’s and I also bought the cutest pig with wings.

Isn’t he the cutest thing!  He was the last one they had.  The sales clerk told me that they were such a big seller and that they had been  “literally flying out of the store”.

A few of you asked about the burlap doily I have on the dining room table…….I made that too.  

I may not have a fireplace mantel but I sure do have fun decorating my little mantel shelf in the family room.

As always thanks for visiting and I’ll be back on Sunday for The Great Spring’tacular Party over at Debbie Doo’s.   My copy cat challenge has to do with this sweet little rocking horse. 

Until then, enjoy your weekend.

Gail

Linking this post to:

Nutmeg Place for Showoff Saturday

Classy Clutter for Saturday Spotlight

Under The Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase

Coastal Charms for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Fox Hollow Cottage for Spring Mantel Link Party

Grits and Glamour for Mantelscape Party

The Lettered Cottage for Spring Mantel

Accessorizing

Hello everyone!  Yesterday, I spent most of my day at my son and daughter-in-law’s house tweaking a few things and accessorizing the china cabinet in their kitchen.  About a month ago, Charlie and I delivered this china cabinet to our son and daughter-in law.  It was a purchased at The Habitat for Humanity Restore and you can read all about its transformation here.  Up until yesterday, it looked like this. 

 

Today, it looks like this. 

       

Most of the china cabinet accessories were things she already had.  The other items were either purchased or taken from the stash in my shed. 

Do you see that little copper colander on the bottom shelf?   I purchased that a while back at Goodwill for little of nothing.  It has the cutest little white ceramic handles on it.   Next time I’m up there, I’ll have to take a picture of it.  I had been meaning to do it anyway. 

In between changing things in my own home, I did manage to paint the replica of an antique wooden ice box that was in their kitchen.  This is what it looked like before.    

And now the after; 

I used ASCP red primer and graphite.   I debated whether or not to paint the hardware and opted not to.  Look at the patina on the brass. 

Now I need to work on accessorizing the wall above it but I need to make a Lowes run.  I have a plan and it involves wood.   

I created a little tablescape yesterday as well.  

I also made a few changes to her fireplace mantel but I’ll share that with you all in another post. 

Thanks to all of you for your sweet comments regarding the open shelving in my kitchen.  You all had me grinning from ear to ear!  You bloggers always make me smile:)  

Thanks again, and I hope you all have a wonderful day,

Gail

Linking this post to:

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

2805 for Potpourri Party

Open Shelving in the Kitchen

I’m still at it; moving things around and changing things up!  Now that the dining room is done, I have moved into the kitchen. (To see the changes I have made in the dining room you can go here. )  For now, I have boxed up all my copper pieces that I had displayed on the open shelving in the kitchen.  I have replaced it with white ironstone and silver pieces that I picked up here and there.  Take a look……

Most of the things I used were things I already had. 

The tea pot was a recent purchase made at The Christmas Shoppe.  I love that store!  I paid $5.99 for it. 

The soup tureen was a deal….I paid $5.00 for it several months ago at one of our local Flea Markets. 

The grater you see was my grandmother’s, then my mom’s and now it’s mine.  I placed a little electric candle inside it.  It gives off the neatest glow at night. 

Those are faux apples in that wire basket.  Don’t they look real?  I can’t wait for my grandsons to come and ask me to peel them one…aren’t they in for a surprise. 

I have to tell you, I really like this neutral color theme I have right now.  It makes everything seem so much lighter and brighter.    I have one more thing on my list of “Things To Do” in the kitchen and that is to build a farm table…..I’m waiting patiently for that because I need hubby’s help. 

As always, thanks for visiting and for your sweet comments.  They always make my day. 

Gail

Linking this post to: 

Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesday

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

DIY by Design for Winter Blues Wednesday

No Minimalist Here for Open House Party

From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Cutting Boards, Ladle and a Mirror

What a disappointment!  I spent less than a half an hour at the Yard Sale/Auction on Saturday where I bought two cutting boards and a ladle.  I spent a total of ONE dollar.   

There was absolutely nothing on display at the auction that I really wanted to sit and wait for.   The yard sale started at 7:00 a.m. and the auction was scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m.  Charlie and I left there and went to our local Flea Market where I bought a door mirror for $1. 

I  have a plan for the mirror and I’m working on it now. 

I guess the day wasn’t a complete disappointment because when we got home, I started working on the cutting boards.  Take a look at what I did. 

This was the larger one.  I cut two inches off of each side, sanded it and applied a dark walnut stain.  I attached the ladle and placed a candle inside. 

And now the smaller one. 

I sanded this one too and applied a dark walnut stain.  After I applied the stain, I wiped most of it off.  I used an image from the Graphics Fairy then I used the Woodworker's Transfer Tool to burn the image on the cutting board.  This was my first time using the transfer tool.  You can see on the upper right corner where the heating iron was too hot and I burned the cutting board!  Oh well, it adds a little more character to the cutting board don’t you think?

As soon as we see some sunshine around here, I’ll take pictures of the changes I’ve made in the kitchen.     

  As always, thanks for your visit and your sweet comments.  They always make my day! 

Gail

Linking this post to:

Coastal Charms for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Northern Cottage for Party Time Tuesday

Knick of Time for Vintage Style Link Party

Dining Room and Salvation Army Silver

With March here, I think of Spring!  For me that means changes inside and out.  I’ve already made quite a few changes in the dining room.  As you can see, I had a lot of red in my dining room. 

 Now I have very little red.  Although I still love red, I was ready for a change.

 I replaced two of the black chairs with two mix matched white arm chairs.  I painted both of the chairs off white with ASCP. 

I made chair slip covers for the black chairs and added burlap bows.   The burlap bows are tied to the chair.  I didn’t sew the bows on the chair slips because they were actually an afterthought.   

A week or so ago, I purchased a boat load of silver at our local Salvation Army for $40.89.  Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of any of it because my camera battery was dead and I was ready to get started incorporating some of my new finds in the dining room.  I will point out the silver pieces as I go along. 

On the buffet, I replaced the red runner with a burlap one. 

 

  The silver tray, the oval silver dish holding the white napkins and the silver round tray resting on an easel are part of the Salvation Army silver finds…but there’s more! 

  

 

The china cabinet also has some Salvation Army silver inside as well. 

 The tea pot, tall skinny vase and……

…..the creamer, sugar bowl and the silver tray were also purchased at the Salvation Army.  

 The picnic basket on top of the china cabinet was a clearance item at Wal-Mart.  I paid $7 for it! 

All the silver that you see on the table….. 

……..Salvation Army!

I still have a few more pieces of silver and I’ll share those with you when I’m finished in the kitchen.   

As always, thanks for your visit and your sweet comments.  They always make my day. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  We’re going to an auction on Saturday.  I haven’t been to an auction in months so lookout! 

Gail

 

Linking this post to:

Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

2805 for Potpourri Party

Under The Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase Party

A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Thrifty Decor Chick for Show Us Your Dining Room