30A Style - A Book of Beach Houses

I'm excited to learn I've won a signed copy of the book 30A Style over at Flea Market Trixie.

Stylist Lynn Nesmith and photographer Jean Allsopp do photoshoots for Cottage Style magazine.


Their book highlights gorgeous beach homes in the historic communities and new towns along the scenic highway 30A, located in northwest Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.

If you'd like to purchase a copy go the 30A Style Website to order.

Bench Redo

I picked up this bench at a yard sale last spring for $5.  I've tried repeatedly to sell it at shows and on craigslist but didn't have one bite.  I didn't want to reduce the price under $30 so I gave it a makeover.  It was hard to take it apart knowing how long it must have taken someone to do that needlepoint.  I was somewhat justified in refinishing it since it sagged really badly.

When I removed the bottom cover I discovered the webbing was falling apart.  It was full of grass.  This baby is old.

I sanded, primed, painted and distressed the frame.  I redid the webbing and added two layers of quilt batting.  Then I reupholstered it with a painter's dropcloth.  I had a very old piece of ticking I used for the pleated ruffle around the bottom. It is so fresh and updated now.

I'm linking to Primp Your Stuff Wednesday.

A Pair of French Grainsack End Tables

I picked up two french style end tables at a yardsale for $5 each.  This one looked like it had slight water damage on top.  The finish was rough and it had a couple cracks were the wood had split. I filled the cracks with wood putty then sanded the top smooth.  I also removed the shell cutout on the front of each table.  Other than that they are solid construction and the draweres have dovetail joints.  They are built very well.

It was too cold to spray them outside and I didn't want to have to sand them.  I decided to try the chalk paint recipe I've seen around blogland.  I mixed 1 cup of flat latex paint and 1 tbsp white nonsanded grout and started painting.  They turned out great and love how easy the chalkpaint is to work with.  It adhered very well to the unsanded finish. Then I stenciled the tops to look like a vintage grainsack and sprayed the handles oil rubbed bronze. Love how they turned out.

Not bad for $5 each.

I'm linking to Furniture Feature Friday, February's Before and  After Party,  Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, Transformation Thursday and Frugal Friday.

A Hidden Treasure

I've added several more vintage suitcases to my collection over this past summer.  I bought all of them at yard sales.  I paid from $1 to $8 each.  Bargains. I tried them in several rooms in different arrangements and decided I liked them best grouped together in the living room.

They were empty and merely decorative until recently.  When I was taking my fall decorations down I decided to store them in these suitcases instead of three totes in the garage. I always hate digging in the garage to get to my seasonal decor. My husband especially liked that they are actually functional as well as decorative.

As I was packing stuff away I looked in one of the pockets and found a yellowed card with a quote on it.  I began to wonder who did this suitcase belong to?  Was it a man or woman?  What was their life like?  Where did they live?  I can envision someone sitting at an old typewriter typing this up.

It really made my day and got me thinking.  It makes me value my old suitcases a little more.

I'm linking to Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, Frugal Friday, and Weekend Wonders

Holiday House - A Barn Sale

Saturday, November 19th, my friend, Stacy, and I hosted our very first barn sale. We held it in her large shop just outside of town. We had tons of painted furniture, vintage items, home decor, and Christmas decor. It was lots of hard work but it was fun seeing her shop be transformed. Despite all the snow we had a steady stream of customers and sold a lot of stuff. We think it was worth the effort. Here are lots of pictures!!!!

All of the furniture you see below was painted and refinished by the two of us over the past couple months except a few chippy antique pieces that were already perfection.

We made lots of german glass glitter letters and word garlands.

We made vintage sheet music wreaths and ornaments.

And the day of.  Full of customers.

For our first ever very own show I think it was a success. 

I'm linking up with Primp Your Stuff Wednesday.

Duncan Phyfe Table and Lyre Back Chairs

I picked up a small duncan phyfe dining table and two lyre back chairs at our local thrift store last week.  The table was $7 and the chairs $1 a piece.  To say they needed some tlc is an understatement.  The joints on the chairs were loose so I spent a good hour glue, clamping, and repairing them.

One was upholstered in green and cream stripes and the other was red with cream swirls.  The fabric was filthy.  This is after the chairs were repaired and sanded.

The table base and top were also sanded.

Then I sprayed them with black paint in an eggshell finish. This is always the easy part.  It took me about 10 minutes to spray everything. I was fortunate to get a warmer day to paint outside last week.

And after three hours work here is the finished product!!! 

I used scraps from a painter's drop cloth for the fabric on the chairs.  Then I used masking tape to tape off and paint the stripes and stenciled on the laurel wreath and year.  I wanted them to look like they were recovered with an old grain sack.

Wish I had room to keep them!!!

I'm linking to Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, Furniture Feature Friday, and Frugal Friday