Origami Owl

I'm pretty sure I was the last person to hear about this jewelry line.  I live under a rock, a very decorated and organized rock!

 

You all know my hubby lives in Afghanistan, so I don't get out much.  My main focus has been the kids and the house.  Recently I thought maybe I should do something fun for me.

 

Insert Origami Owl consultant Kim Wilt, she came over and set up the cutest jewelry bar ever!  I invited my friends, we had treats and drinks and shopped.  It was a fun evening.  Plus I bought some really cute stuff for me and the girl!  Christmas is coming, great gift idea.

This is mine, gold of course.  I really love the selection of chains, charms and lockets.  I will have to buy more soon!

 

A few close ups. 

 

I think my favorite charm is the Buddha, it has been my daughters nick name since she was about 3 months old.  She had a round belly, what can I say, I'm not that original! 

 

 This is for Lauren, she wanted silver, so silver it is.  I'm hoping she will come to the gold side as she gets older. 

 

 I let her pick out everything, it's going to be a stocking stuffer.  I love that she wanted a 'MOM' charm, cause she loves me so much!

 

 If you have a necklace or get one, I would love to see it!

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

 

I Heart Metalics!

I especially heart metallic of the GOLD variety.  Is that wrong?  Not sure really where this love of Gold came from, my wedding rings are white gold, but when it comes to decorating I'm all about the yellow gold.

 

I've had this piece in my dining room since I moved in, I bought it for this house, but for over a year it has sat around in a sad state of old wood.  Not the most beautiful piece, but it does the job, holds all my precious gold dishes! 

 

This week I had a client that wanted her piece painted Primer Red, and I thought what am I going to do with the rest of this can?  I don't get a lot of clients that want this color and I don't have anything this color in my home.  I should point out that I love RED too, but more like an accent.

 

It got me thinking, and I came up with this idea, based on every thing I've read about gold leafing.  Which isn't a ton, but I did notice a reoccurring theme, most pieces are primed with dark red or brown paint.  Apparently it works well under the gold.

 

 

 

 

Here is the only decent before picture I could find, but you see what I mean by boring wood?  It had a  ton of potential and good lines, very sturdy.

 

 

This is where Primer Red comes to play, two coats with a top coat of clear wax.  I did not photograph this step.  Honestly I've been so bad about blogging this last year, I didn't even think I would do a post, and then I just couldn't help myself....

 

I wish I could play music at this point to intro this piece to the blog world!  But let's face it, when it comes to every thing tech like, I'm lucky to use my phone...

 

 

A couple close ups...I just can't get enough of this piece.  It's my new favorite baby, it makes me want to paint the whole house gold! 

 

 

 

And I know you want to know how I got the gold finish.  I used two tubes of Antique Gold Rub N Buff.  The actual gold leave process was more than I wanted to do, I may try it down the road on a smaller piece.  I love the Rub N Buff, amazing product.  (I wasn't paid to say that, just my opinion)

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Love you guys. 

 

 

Stop by later this week, I'm going to have a give away!!!!

 

xoxo Tammy

Plum Perfect

I woke up a week ago and said "let's strip some paint", and let's I meant me.  All by myself, little old me alone with some Citristrip and basic tools.  Wire bruse, putty knife, sponge, bucket of water and lots and lots of paper towels..  So many paper towels that I ran out and the project was delayed a day until I could buy some more.

 

 

Before.  



 

During, and by during I mean about 6 hours into stripping.  Just so we are clear, this isn't half way.  It took me 16 hours, yes that says 16 hours, to strip this piece.  So many legs and details, but I wouldn't change a thing.  Knowing what I know now.  I would strip it again.

 

Done stripping, she's so pretty, but she now that she's bare naked her flaws are starting to show.  Poor girl, I know how she feels!  So  I fixed her flaws, a little filler here and there and some custom paint to cover her legs and details.

 

Finished!  Isn't she grand?  I may be partial, I have a lot of work into her, so of course I think she's amazing.  She almost looks NEW! 

 

Close up of all her gorgeousness, that's a word right?  If not, it should be.  I stained all her wooden parts with a dark walnut, to cut down on the yellow tint she had going on and wiped her down with two coats of Minwax wipe on poly.  Wipe on poly is genius in a can.  Run out now and buy some.  The custom color was a happy accident.  It's 4 pts Wrought Iron by La Craie (Maison Blanch, French chalk paint), 1 pt Emperor's Silk by ASCP, and two parts Pearl Plaster by Artisan Enhancements.  Together they created this yummy Plum with the perfect pearl sheen!  Swoon

New Applieances and Norwex Cleaning Products

I  recently took advantage of the sale going on at Home Depot.  My kitchen was in dire need of new appliances.  The set I have was dying on me.  The dishwasher had become a glorified drying rack, the microwave only cooked what it wanted, and the fridge and stove had been repaired so many times, I had Black Hills Energy on speed dial. 

The hubby gave his seal of approval, and off I went to spend a small fortune.  Let me tell you, I was pretty sick about buying appliances, especially when there is so much more I need to spend on this place. 

I bought the new GE slate set, omg, I love the way they look!  The way they work is pretty amazing too!  I love that my dishwasher works.  It's really just the little things in life.  lol  I went convection with the oven too!  I'm a big girl now! 

                                   

A very sweet facebook buddy, Dawn Yeager, sent me some wonderful cleaning supplies by Norwex. 

 

 Which I have to say are perfect.  They won't scratch my new appliances and the cleaning paste she sent really gets the crud off my flat top!  Woo hoo.  You know what it's like when stuff boils over and you get that nasty mess on your stove top.  Well, I used the Cleaning Paste and a SpirSponge, plus a little elbow grease....and good buy burnt on mess! 

I'm totally sold on these cleaning products, if you want to check them out you can go to Dawn's link here. 

P.S. I wasn't paid to do a review for Norwex, this is just my personal opinion.  xx

 

 

 

 

Connor's Room

  Basically his room is not done, but who knows when it will be, I doubt you want to wait.  lol 

His room is as big as the last house, but what you can't see in th pictures are his giant walk in closet.  There's even a window in it!

 

Prepare for almost picture overload, I don't have as may pictures of his room.  I was lucky to go in his domain, eight year old boys like their privacy.  Geesh.

 

 

I still need to paint his room and do a small project for over his bed, and then I'm done!  It needs carpet too, but the entire house needs flooring, so that goes with out saying.  Now if I could just win the lotto! 

 

 

 

Lauren's Room

  Today I'm sharing Lauren's room with you.  I love her room, it's so much bigger than the last house.  She can actually play in her room, and it holds ALL her stuff!

 

Which is really my stuff.  To know me is to know, I have decorated her room for me, for the room I didn't have at her age.  She loves it too, and is very proud of her room. 

 

Her room was even painted before mine, mine still isn't painted.  I even let her pick out the color, after I carefully selected four that I loved. 

 

Prepare for picture overload!

 

 

Thanks for making it this far!  I know it was  a lot of pics.  I'm getting ready to gut her closet it and put in a new system, and of course paint it.  She chose a beautiful dark pink for the closet.  I can't wait to get started!

 

 

 

Dining Room

  Please prepare yourself for picture overload. 

Now that you've been warned, here is my dining room. 

I will be replacing the light fixture.  This was here when I moved in, and it's not my taste, but will have to do until I can find the one that makes me swoon. (oh and affordable.)

Have I mentioned that I'm addicted to angel wings, and anything gold?

 

 

As promised, remember these chairs?  Before.

 

After! 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking out my dining room, it's a work in progress, stay tuned!