With A Twist

Fruits of Labor

2014-04-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Spring cleaning inside (check)...

Spring cleaning outside...

in progress.

I may not have any nails left (because I ~~refuse~~ am too lazy to put on gloves),

but I have made a very small dent in cleaning up the mess

Winter left behind in our yard.

My most favorite thing about Spring is that it brings

the fragrance of sweet jasmine.

My mother-in-law bought me a jasmine tree years ago

and I wait with anticipation for it to bloom each year.

I chose to plant it by our family room/kitchen nook windows

so the scent permeates the entire house.

We have many flowerbeds throughout our yard.

This is a blessing and a curse at times because up until this year

I struggled with what to plant where.

Now that I have gone and really been selective with

With A Twist projects, I have had more time to play around and

explore gardening...and I am making much better choices!

For instance, I am no longer using annuals throughout the entire yard

(but will continue to use them in my hanging baskets and planters).

Note to my husband...if you are really reading this blog post,

you should come ask me how this will save us money next year...

(bet you $100 he will not come and ask me!).

Here is a shot of the back corner of our yard,

where I have started a shade garden.

Eventually, the hostas will fill out and the astilbe will

sprout white feathery blooms.

In addition, my son will be staining the fence this summer.

This shade garden will be a corner of tranquility :)

Next up I planted my flowerbed below our family room windows.

A little sparse to start off this season, but these perennials

will be lush by mid-summer. My fingers are crossed that the

foxglove (a new plant for me) will still be blooming when we

throw my daughter's high school graduation party in June.

The spurge (new plant for me) has chartreuse petals with dark purple throats.

Out of this shot, but flanking these plants are a deep

purple-blue columbine (another new one for me).

I finished two of my planters for our front porch last week, and

they have already filled in since this pic.

It doesn't seem like a lot of progress, but you didn't see the hours

of weeding it took to prep for planting.

Take my word for it, it was ugly...Winter took its tole!

It's been such a wet start to the season,

I've had to dodge the raindrops and work when it is dry.

I am a fair-weather gardener, but I do love

sitting back and enjoying my fruits of labor!

Rosemary crisps, a little Beecher's cheese

and a bottle of Scuttlebutt..

not figure friendly by any means, but a treat for sure!

I will be back with more gardening and hopefully

a completed bed and nightstand painting project next time.

Until then, happy planting!

Cheree

MOVING DAY, SPRING CLEANING & RUG OBSESSION

2014-03-12T00:17:00.002-07:00

Lots of changes happening for With A Twist!

I recently decided to focus on requests for custom painted

cabinetry and custom painted furniture.

Knowing I couldn't keep up with

my space at Faded Elegance and fulfill requests,

I made the difficult decision to leave Faded.

I will always be a HUGE fan of Faded and told Kimberly to keep

me in mind if she ever needed extra help with events.

I met a lot of wonderful people during my three years there as a dealer,

and formed friendships that are dear to me.

It really is the very best antique mall ever!

So, I wrapped up a couple custom jobs and the move yesterday,

leaving the afternoon to clean out my garage. I had very little 'leftovers'

from my space at Faded, and was thrilled that the one piece of furniture that

did come back with me was one that I already had plans for in my messy garage.

I wish I had taken a before pic of the mess, but I'm sure it looks like

most garages, therefore I will spare you!

This is the "drop off" area in the garage..

you know the one... Every piece of sporting equipment,

dirty uniform, muddy pair of shoes and excess clutter lands here.

BUT no more, at least not now! (Check back in a month

when we are knee deep in baseball season).

All sporting equipment is to the right of this pic,

racks for balls and hooks for bags.

And, I put the cabinet I painted to good use!

I love having all my paint in one spot. Now that the

weather is warming up, I will go back to painting out in the

garage and this cabinet is right next to a work table. Perfect access!

It took me the entire afternoon to finish the clean up so I stopped for the

night and I continued where I left off after the kids and husband left

for school and work the next morning. I took to the inside and

began washing my wood floors in the entryway and then continued

into the laundry room, after which I felt the

need to reward myself with a trip to my new favorite happy place~

Beachglass Interiors by K.Miller.

Have I mentioned just how much I love this shop?

It is so inspiring and inviting, and I always leave with a little something.

(This is also where you can buy my favorite chalk based paint,

Vintage Market & Design).

I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for when I arrived at Beachglass,

but I was hoping to find some floor rugs to protect my newly washed floors!

All of mine were shot and I figured I hadn't bought new ones in a

good three or four years (gross).

That's a lot of doggie paws and people traffic!

Krista Miller (Beachglass owner) did NOT disappoint and I came home with

a healthy obsession for Chilewich rugs :)

Here's a peek-

These are the woven indoor/outdoor style and although they look like a

fabric rug, they are made of vinyl, which I thought would be strange

but I love them. AND, get this...

hose them off when they get dirty! No more freaking out when

coffee spills or a dog has an accident. No more wear and tear on your

washer and dryer. They are also resistant to mold and mildew.

So simple to care for and they look like a 'real' rug.

On a side note, I also bought a jar of "Raven" (dark grey) VM paint,

so I can make-over our bench here. It's only been three years or so

since I last painted it, but I am so over all of the sage green in our home and

want to update, like yesterday. This make-over will be done ASAP now that

I have finally decided on a color!

Onto the laundry room-

Another project I will be finishing is

painting this room. I started it before Thanksgiving,

and then well, you know...got distracted.

Feeling pretty accomplished after the move, finishing some Spring cleaning,

and finding the perfect floor rugs (cue applause).

It's the little things that make a girl happy :)

XOXO

Cheree

P.S. Again, here's the link to the store where you can find these rugs.
Remember to support small businesses in your community
and avoid shopping on line when you can. You can't beat the personal
service with small shops...and you won't be stuck paying shipping!
Beachglass by K.Miller, located in Mukilteo, Washington

VINTAGE SALE!

2014-02-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

BIG BIG SALE in my dealer space (dealer #9) at

Faded Elegance!

I just brought a load of new treasures and spruced up yesterday, so

make a day of it and head down this weekend!

Happy Friday!!!

Cheers!

Vintage Market & Design Furniture Paint

2014-01-29T15:31:00.001-08:00

I'm having a little love affair

with a NEW...

paint line

VINTAGE MARKET AND DESIGN.

You can read all about it

HERE!

Top Five Reasons I adore this line:

Price - Less expensive than any other brand out on the market.
Drying time-I paint a ton of furniture and the shorter drying time helps me increase my productivity.
Durability-This dries harder than any other paint, which is KEY when customers really are looking for something that will stand the test of time.
Wax-Goes on smoothly and leaves NO fingerprints.
Safe - Non toxic, no odor, low VOC

Oh, and it's made in the USA (I know, that's (6), but I could keep going...really).

So, are you wondering how the paint looks?

Check out this vanity I pulled out of an old barn.

This darling was so sad and in need of a good

scrub and facelift.

Nearby behind an old cabinet was the mirror (also in need of TLC).

I wiped it down really well to remove years of dirt and grime,

but other than that there was no

need to prime or sand (this is another reason to love this paint).

This beautiful color is 'Twig'.

I finished this piece (including sanding, waxing and

changing out the hardware) in about two hours.

I love the way it came out, but it needed a seat.

I had an old chair kicking around in the garage,

so I put a new fabric on the seat and painted it

to match the mirrored vanity.

It turned out to be a great accent piece, but

it wasn't a perfect fit.

I had my parents visiting this weekend, and my

dad pointed out that although it looked nice,

you couldn't fit the chair in close to the vanity.

Leave it to him to be so practical :).

So I went junkin and found a smaller seat.

I redid the cushion, painted the legs and brought it

all into Faded Elegance today.

It all ties in together now (thanks Dad for the suggestion)!

If you are interested in checking out this new paint by Vintage Market & Design,

you can visit this darling store in Mukilteo called Beach Glass Interiors.

You can read about the brains and beauty behind the scenes at Beach Glass

HERE.

Please stop in and tell her I sent you!

Cheers!

Cheree

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

2014-01-13T08:09:00.001-08:00

The rain, wind and dark days can get to you

(even if you are like me and really don't mind them).

This past weekend we had a cluster of those days back to back,

and I spent most of my time at home enjoying every bit.

Why?

It sounds silly, but I surround myself with things that make

Winter cozy and a little less dreary.

These are a few of my favorite things..

Favorite Warm-Up: Earl Grey Tea

My favorite brand is Stash. Their Double Bergamot
Earl Grey is mild and perfectly calming.

Favorite Movie: The Holiday
I'm not joking when I say I have probably watched this
ten times in the past month. I have it on while I'm cooking or doing
stuff around the house and I just love everything about it.

Favorite Throw: Soft Heat Micro fleece Electric Throw

My mom bought this for me years ago and I

rarely go an evening without cranking up the temp

and snuggling down. (I even use it in the summer!)

Favorite Author: Jen Lancaster

I must admit that I find very little time to sit down and read,

but when I do this is just one of my favorite authors.

I tend to stay with lighthearted reads and gravitate

to authors who have a flair for humor.

Jen Lancaster is hysterical and I can't wait

for her upcoming release shown below!

Favorite Soundtrack: The Holiday

One of my Christmas presents from Keith and the kids this year

was this soundtrack. I love having music on when I am rearranging

and straightening up the house. This soundtrack was a must while I took down all

of the Christmas decorations.

(I finally got it all packed away yesterday!)

Favorite Slow Cooker Recipe: Potato Chowder

I use my slow cooker throughout the year, but more so in the Winter.

This is comfort food and not something I make too often (it definitely NOT figure friendly!), but it is a family favorite for sure! My daughter

is a vegetarian, so I make the base of the soup and have small bowls

of bacon, chives and cheddar cheese so everyone can add what they want.

Potato Chowder

8 Cups diced potatoes

1/3 Cup chopped onion

3 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth

1 (10 ¾ oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese, diced (I find if it is room temperature it

blends better)

½ lb. sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled (I use a whole package of bacon ~

bad I know, but soooo good)

Snipped chives

In a slow cooker, combine the first five ingredients. Cover and cook on low

8 to 10 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Add cream cheese and stir

until blended. Garnish with bacon and chives.

Recipe Credit: Bonnie Ellis (Thank you! XOXO)

Favorite Magazine: Country Living

I look forward to each new issue and can always find a ton of inspiration!

That being said,
I wish I could get my hands on a subscription to

the British edition. I was lucky enough

to inherit a friend's

very large British collection from years past (years and years worth!)

and they are lovely!

Favorite Pastime: Painting Furniture

Even during the Winter months, I enjoy painting. There is something about seeing a piece of old outdated furniture come to life with something as simple as a coat of paint.

Favorite Luxury: Lollia Foaming Bath

Loading furniture in and out of the car, rearranging it to fit it all in at Faded...it

can leave a girl in need of a long soak in a hot bath. My favorite bubble bath is by Lollia.

I hide it from everyone in the family because it's a luxury and treat (for me)!

Favorite Lounge wear: PJ Salvage

On most days, I live in tattered sweats and paint-splattered clothing.

However, I love a cozy pair of pajamas just like any other girl.

I coveted these for weeks and when i had a great stretch of sales,

I treated myself.

An early Valentine's Day 'from' hubby perhaps?

They are so cozy!

You can find them at
Faded Elegance!

Favorite Snuggle-Buddy: Barley (aka Bar-man)

This is our 8-year-old Pomeranian. He is my buddy and follows

me around the house when he isn't 'guarding' the house via the back of

the couch that sits up against our living room window. I have neighbors

come up and say they get a kick out of him barking like a mad dog when

they walk by the house. Regardless of his neurotic behavior, he is the best snuggler!

So, grab your dog or cat and make give them some TLC...they will love you for it!

So, when the Winter weather is bringing you down, try giving

any of my favorite things a try to brighten your mood.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Cheers!

2013 PROJECT REVIEW

2014-01-04T02:00:00.000-08:00

Please ignore the fact that I have neglected the blogging world for over a month.

Decorating for the holidays is well, let's just that I should probably hire out in the future (or be put on medication). I'm obsessed with rearranging ornaments on the tree. I love how it looks when I am done, but it could take days (or weeks). The shopping and wrapping presents, trying to squeeze in

every December tradition into two weeks of Winter break, holiday baking, hosting

Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, keeping up my space at Faded,

entertaining guests, and staying up late and sleeping in

were some of the other reasons I was kept away!

I thoroughly enjoyed them all (minus the tree thing) :)

Before I face the fact that it is January 2014 and in six short months my first born will be graduating high school, let's take a moment to recap some of With A Twist projects in 2013...

This year, this was the one I struggled the most with selling...
I wanted to keep it!

Painted my first gossip chair and telephone table.

One thing's for sure, there were a lot of fun projects.
To sum it up, it was a year that challenged me to balance running my own business, along

with staying connected and involved with my growing-up-ever-so-fast-teenagers.

I am grateful that we managed to build in a family vacation (may have been the last one before

our daughter heads off to college this fall), that we all are healthy, and that I still remain passionate

about doing something that allows me to be a mom, a wife and a business owner.

Thank you for being a part of it.

Good-bye 2013 and cheers to 2014!

~XOXO~

Cheree

BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS

2013-11-25T22:15:00.004-08:00

Putting the finishing touches on my spot at Faded today.

The store is in tip top shape for Friday's (November 29th)

big sale!

The store will be open extended hours (10am to 8pm),

so come support local shops in Snohomish!

In my not-so-humble-opinion, Faded has never looked more

beautiful!

There will be great deals, cookies, and gifts with purchase while supplies last.

You can also vote for your favorite

space and be entered into a drawing for a $75 gift certificate

Faded Elegance!

I am so grateful to be a part of this group of talented, extremely

hard-working women.

From the owner, Kimberly McIlrath, to the eight different dealers,

we all put our hearts and souls into it.

So, take a trip down and see what we have in store for you this holiday!

Speaking of holiday,

I am full of gratitude that we will be spending it

with my mom and dad, sister and brother in law and little niece.

We will all share what we are grateful for, enjoy an

amazing traditional Thanksgiving feast,

and then awake the next day as a

HOUSE DIVIDED!

I will try to post pics of us all decked out in our gear

as we watch the Apple Cup from my sister's.

Are you a Dawg or Coug?

Looking forward to the entire week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pom Pom Wreath

2013-11-11T22:06:00.001-08:00

The holiday season is just around the corner and it has been a

week since I changed up my space at Faded Elegance.

I know it seems early, but for those of us in retail we hope

to spark creativity and inspire with our seasonal displays.

Getting it up early allows more time to plan,

offering up ideas for you to create beauty in your own home.

Speaking of creating...

This week I thought I would share a pom pom wreath I had fun making.

I saw it on Pinterest awhile back (gotta love Pinterest).

It was super easy to make and would be a fun snowy day project for kids.

I had my favorite movie on in the background and was sipping an

eggnog latte (I love setting the scene for a cozy and productive afternoon).

It's pretty self explanatory via the pictures, but I did attempt

to write hints under each pic.

I started out with four packages of the fluffiest white yarn I could find,
a package of stick pins and a straw wreath.

First step, wrap yarn around wreath so that the majority of the straw
is covered. Leave plastic on the wreath so that the straw is
contained and won't make a mess. Secure the ends of the yarn with
stick pins.

Next, wrap the yarn about 38 times around your
four fingers or use a piece of cardboard so save
your hand from cramping. It doesn't have to be tight or
"neat", just loosely wrapped.

You will carefully slide off the wrapped yarn and place it
on top of a 5-inch piece of yarn that you previously cut.

Take the 5-inch piece of cut yarn and tie it tightly around the
wrapped bundle of yarn. Tie it tight and secure it.

Slide scissors into the 'loops' and cut. This step creates the pom pom.
It will be messy and uneven, but don't panic.

Repeat the previous step until all loops are cut.

Clean up the pom pom by trimming the uneven pieces. Last step is
to use a stick pin to secure pom pom to wreath. Space evenly apart and
have fun! If you don't like the spacing, just remove stick pin and rearrange
pom pom. Keep making them until you have something that looks like the pic
below.

I chose a neutral ribbon that I had on hand and secured
it to the back of the wreath with stick pins. It makes it easy
to hang and adds a simple accent.

That's it!

I hope you find time to come visit Faded Elegance!

The store is full of delightful ideas to help get you started

on your holiday decorating!

Cheers!

FAVORITE QUOTES & SIGNS = LOVE

2013-10-26T23:29:00.002-07:00

Why must my favorite month of the year fly by so quickly?

The cooler foggy mornings give way to glimpses of

bright oranges, reds and yellows against the grey skies.

Hearty soups and pumpkin spice lattes.

Warm fuzzy sweaters, boots and scarves.

Are you with me?

I've been immersed in the season and have been enjoying every minute.

I hope you are too!

On the business front, I am gathering and creating new items

for the change over of my space at Faded Elegance.

Faded will be closed to the public on Monday, November 4th

so all dealers can create dazzling displays for the start of the

holiday shopping season.

Part of my fun this season has been involved in the making

of these reclaimed wood signs shown below.

I selected my favorite quotes that fill me with that

warm and cozy feeling and made them into signs.

My dad helped by framing them with fence wood that I've

been collecting.

I think I have mentioned before my dad is someone

who can make just about anything!

He does an awesome job, don't ya think?

Tomorrow is Sunday and for that I am so thankful!

I am sleeping in!

Cheers!

Cheree

COWBELLS AND FLAPPER GIRLS

2013-10-01T19:41:00.000-07:00

Recovering from an amazing party thrown by

Kimberly, of Faded Elegance.

The 20% off Anniversary Sale lasted throughout the weekend,

and ended Monday.

What a great way to thank her customers!

The food, decor, store, drinks and prizes were flowing!

Jill, Kimberly, Me and Katie
(Photo credit: Faded Elegance)

Whenever we are heading into a big event, I try to bring in

something new that I have never brought in before.

This time around (thanks to a friend who shares my passion for 'junkin')

I brought in a ton of rusty old goodness.

Can you hear me squeal with delight?

These were found up in an old rickety, dark barn.

I'd have to say that this is a haul I am most excited about...

mostly because I got to hear the wonderful heartfelt stories

about these pieces....their past life.

The milk jugs are from the days when the owner (now well into his 60's) used to

wake up at 4:00 am to milk the cows before school.

The array of cowbells came from a large collection of various

types of bells. This farm used to raise goats, cows and pigs.

I have to do some research on these little bells here, but there are

intricate markings on a few that lead me to think they might have

their own story to tell.

I can't help thinking of the Saturday Night Live skit with Will Ferrell.

You know, "I need MORE COWBELL!"

I love the rope that ties three of these cool shaped bells together.

I think I giggled when I saw these at the bottom of an old box.

I have seen these before in stores, but never before with their

original leather. I love that they are slightly tattered.

So, after I cleaned off most of the dirt and cobwebs, I lugged it all in

and set it up for the big anniversary sale. Here's how that went...

This cute little wind chime was handmade from a little bell and a tiny horseshoe.

The roped bells accented my chippy door perfectly.

The wood crates I brought in really filled up the space, so it was

really all about accessorizing with all the other treasures.

I brought in some more Eastlake side chairs too.

I stenciled each of them with graphics from The Graphics Fairy.

I used the transfer method that works with freezer paper.

The tutorial on the Graphics Fairy website worked

perfectly. Just remember to follow each step, including the last one, which

is to burnish the image onto the fabric.

I also brought in a few other items...

This hobnail lamp and antique gold frames set off the

glassware nicely. The frames have a stamp on the back

that reads, "Made exclusively in Italy for Nordstrom".

How cool is that?

So, that's my venture with cowbells and flapper girls!

I hope to leave you with some Autumnal inspiration!

Cheers!

ANNIVERSARY SALE & SOIREE!

2013-09-23T23:12:00.001-07:00

you are invited to...

friday, september 27th

5pm to 9pm

sips, nibbles, prizes...

what more could a girl ask for?

Oh yes...

it's the biggest sale of the year!

hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Queen Bee French Flea Market

2013-09-19T18:26:00.004-07:00

Way too much fun last weekend at

The Queen Bee's French Flea Market!

If you haven't yet met the wonderful ladies (Kim and JoNell)

who put this show on, click here to learn about them.

The venue for this event was the Schilter Family Barn.

As you can see, it was spectacular!

Vendor booths were top notch, including the one designed by

my friend and Owner of Faded Elegance, Kimberly McIlrath.

My pictures were taken with my phone (which is a dinosaur, NOT

a smart phone), so it doesn't do it justice...but you get the gist.

Kimberly, Owner of Faded Elegance and Kaite of Inspired by Ellee.

There were well over 600 guests and I am sure

everyone, including me, was impressed!

My buddy Katie of Inspired By Ellee

and I drove down together and met up with Kimberly on Friday.

Kim and JoNell (organizers of the event) graciously put us up in their

Queen Bee Cottage Retreat.

It was the most beautiful cottage!

They rent out the Queen Bee Cottage for events.

If you want to treat yourself you should look into contacting them.

Click here to visit their Facebook page.

Not only did we have the best sleep ever (the down comforters were dreamy),

but we also met new friends from Enumclaw.

Bev and Cindy were a hoot! I mean, belly bustin', laugh til ya cry

good ole' fun girls.

They were quite the attraction with their 'Glampers'!

This one is Bev's...

And this is Cindy's

We were feeling a bit sheepish after our night of fun, but these troopers (Kimberly included)

were ready to hit it the next day. So fun!

A ton of great finds for everyone and I could totally

appreciate the time and hard work put in by everyone.

It was a memorable weekend!

Back at Faded Elegance, I spent Monday trompin in with new treasures!

I adore this French bee hive basket!

I was lucky enough to find two of these cool tea crates.

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a thing for chippy doors.

Bought this from the nicest lady. Isn't it cute?

So, next time you hear about the women of Queen Bee Cottage Retreat

or their Queen Bee French Flea Market,

TAKE NOTICE!

You won't want to miss it!

Cheers!

Flea Market Time!

2013-09-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Headed to:

The line up of vendors looks so fun,

including

Faded Elegance!

I will do my best to snap some photos,

but I admit I plan on doin' some shoppin'!

Happy Weekend!

Cheree

Wrapping Up Summer

2013-09-10T12:44:00.002-07:00

Believe it or not, I am still here :)

Between our trip to Southern Cal for vacation, helping

my parents with their estate sale and packing them up to move,

getting the kiddos prepped and back to school...

I regretfully neglected the blogging world.

However, I'm getting into a new routine and it feels great~

Here are some highlights from the past two months...

We started our vacation in San Diego. This is La Jolla.

What's not to love about this?

This cute little general store is in Old Town San Diego.

Don't you just love the nostalgia these red shelves give the inside of the store?

The boys heading into a 'hot sauce' sampling heaven.

Chanelle and I hit the market.

Family snapshot at the San Diego Zoo.

Chanelle at the sting ray pool in Sea World.

We also took time to visit some college campuses. This is UCLA.

Also visited Balboa Park.

Keiton researched where we could learn and visit tributes to Jackie Robinson.
This was right across from City Hall. The other statue is of his brother.

Don't judge...I just had to go! We were so close, it would have
been a crime not to check it out in person.

A long fun filled day at Universal Studios.

Our sunset walk along the boardwalk at Mission Bay.

It was a perfect way to wrap up summer before their Senior and Freshman
year of high school. Just love these two!

Back home I began working on another hutch.

This is how it began...

And after a custom mix of paint colors...

This is how it turned out

We are really getting stocked up for Faded Elegance's

Anniversary Party~

Friday, September 27th

6pm to 9 pm

Come in your flapper's best! (not required)

Kimberly puts on a heck of a party :)

I'm headed to a show down in Olympia this weekend.

Hope to find some good junk and inspiration!

Have a wonderful week!

Cheree

Summer Hutch and Raspberry Lemon Drops

2013-07-29T18:24:00.001-07:00

Summer weather has been amazing here in the Pacific Northwest!

Painting outside (with my country music blasting) is how

I spent the last few days!

Here's a piece that I will be bringing into

Faded Elegance

sometime this week.

Above photo: Although this was a beautiful piece,

solid wood and no cosmetic flaws, it did need updating.

The frosted glass and detailed glass doors on the hutch

look so good with the Maison Blanche -Franciscan Grey

and clear wax.

I did light distressing around edges of doors, drawers and

molding.

The base looks fresh and new in Maison Blanche Vanille.

Lots of storage and buffet-style serving area.

If could, I would keep this one...

it's a beauty!

Speaking of beauty...

this Raspberry Lemon Drop is

a gorgeous cocktail and it is sooooo delicious!

Pick an sunny evening and make one..or two :)

Cheers!!!

Recipe: Lavender & Honey Muffins

2013-07-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

My husband has a repertoire of recipes

he will make for me and the kids, friends and family.

Recently, he made these...

P.S. He threw in about a half cup of white chocolate chips

and they were a hit!

Enjoy!

Cheree

Summer Herbs and New Age Wine!

2013-07-14T18:21:00.003-07:00

I am finally getting into the groove of summer

now that both kids are back from their travels...

Life is good!

My flower pots and hanging baskets are in full bloom...

love!

My herb pot is filling in nicely too!

I have rosemary, French lavender, lemon thyme,

ginger mint (perfect for lemonade) and peppermint

(great for mojitos!).

With all of these herbs, I was inspired to re-make one

of Jill's creations from when With A Twist was in

its first stages of development.

(If you don't remember, Jill is co-founder of With A Twist and also my BFF!

I can't remember what

we called it, but this is what Jill's creative brain

came up with...

Pretty cool, huh?

Here it is displayed with hydrangeas,

but she also created some displayed with school supplies...

Super cute and the possibilities are endless.

My thought was to create a chalkboard herb garden.

Here's how it went...

I had leftover chalkboard paint and decided to put it and my

over abundance of herbs to good use.

I wanted to make two boards, each with three jars.

These are the supplies I started out with:

-Two old pieces of wood (cut to desired size)

I just used what I had and they measured 6" x 23".

-Chalkboard paint

- Six mason jars

-Six 1/2" screws

-Six clamps (size depends on size of mason jars)

I used what I had on hand, regular mouthed size.

I painted both sides of the board using Restoleum Chalkboard Paint,

three coats, drying completely between coats.

I divided the board into thirds and measured down from top

(a little less than half way down the width of the board) and marked

where I wanted my clamps to go.

I don't have a bit to drill holes thru the steel clamps I had,

so I had my friendly neighbor help (Thanks Olthoff!).

Next, I seasoned the chalkboard by using side of chalk to cover the entire

chalkboard with chalk. I wiped off the chalk with damp cloth. (This is a simple step, but

one that you don't want to skip!)

Next I opened the clamps and used the 1/2" screws to secure them to the board.

Lastly, I placed mason jars into clamps and tightened them securely.

Viola!

On another note, I received a bottle of wine from my friend/hairdresser

(a fellow dog lover who also recently had to put her dog down).

It's a new type of white wine, almost like a spritzer.

She gave me very specific instructions for this little gift...

Serve chilled.

Serve over ice.

Serve with a little lime.

Enjoy!

So that is exactly what I did!

And, I did it with my feet in the river, with friends and with this view....

Couldn't ask for a better afternoon!

Cheers!

Saying Good-bye

2013-07-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Having a hard time this week after putting our

lil' girl Pomeranian down. She was a rescue pup and lived

with our family for 12 years. Ginger loved treats, including

the whipped cream from my latte every morning in bed.

We had our little routine, we were spoiled, and she will

be forever missed.

Love you Gigi...

RIP

While The Kids Are Away...

2013-06-26T16:16:00.000-07:00

Both of my kids are traveling right now, which theoretically

leaves me lots of time to wrap up projects that have been

left in the "when I have more time" pile.

My really good friend, Kirsten, asked me if I would

make a sign for her that she had seen in a store on the

other side of the state.

(At one of the many New Year's Parties we've attended...lots of fun times)

Kirsten's son, Griffin and my son, Keiton. at their recent 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony.
Right now these two friends are
travelling around D.C. and New York with 45 of their classmates!

Anyway, it was one of those, "Oh, I wish I would have

bought it" type moments.

However, she really wanted something unique and

asked if I would be up the task of making her one.

She sent me a pic and I was like, "oooh...yeah, this will be fun!"

So, I set out and did some research on how to

put my own twist on this sign she had fallen in love with.

Many, many months later (thanks to my dad, who had

agreed to frame it out for me AND who is

always working on a project and can never sit still, wink, wink),

I dropped it off with her today!

She loves it just as much as I do!

I made two, just because she was working with a space in mind and
I wanted to give her another size option...just n case!

I love that you can pick any phrase, font and size!

I brought the other one into Faded today and here's how it looks...

This antique door had been sitting in my garage
forever and I decided to brush on a light coat of
Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint-Shutter Gray.

So, even though I am without the kiddos for a few more

days, I am managing to squeeze a little play in between

projects!

Here's my husband and I on our way out of town

to Westport...

Might as well take a little vacation for us too, right?

Have a fabulous week!!

Cheers!

Cheree

Wrapping Up The School Year

2013-06-12T09:22:00.002-07:00

It's always mixed emotions for me as we say good-bye

to another school year and wrap up with the season's

end-of-year events.

I don't want to see my kids grow up too fast...

But, I sometimes find myself wishing away these crazy, hectic,

sometimes-over-scheduled calendar days.

As I was looking through pics uploaded from this past month,

I realize this is what it's all about.

Three years with the best band teacher ever...Mr. Boal!

Tradition...ice cream after every concert!

Last Middle School Band Concert! It's hard to believe these
boys are headed up to high school in the Fall!

It wouldn't be our boys if there wasn't some monkey business.

My son, Keiton, and his best buddy Griffin :)

My daughter, Chanelle, and her friends at an end-of-year laser tag event for
Mill Creek Youth Advisory Board.

And I can't forget the countless hours sitting in the bleachers
watching baseball. This field down in Snohomish is my favorite...
especially on a beautiful sunny day.

HS Tradition: Juniors make t-shirts and wear them the day after
current seniors leave. So cute to see what they all come up with.

Senior "Band" Babes

"Banderson"
"CoCo Chanelle"
"Catie The Leading Lady"

Chanelle and her best friend Kristin. This summer
they are travelling back to Chicago together to visit
family. I can't think of a more perfect way to kick off summer
heading into their Senior year!

And it doesn't stop there...

-Last High School Band Concert

-3rd Baseball game in the TOC

-8th Grade Bridging Ceremony

-8th Grade Dance

-Band Performance at High School Graduation

-Last regular season game

-End of season barbeque/party

-Last Day of School

-Send off to Chicago for Chanelle

-Send off to D.C. and New York for Keiton

How's that for wrapping up the school year?

So grateful for all of the wonderful staff, teachers, volunteers, coaches,

friends and family who have helped make this a memorable year.

Here's to many blessings and fun memories!

Cheers!

Cheree

Labor of Love - Recovering an Antique Chair Tutorial

2013-05-19T18:34:00.003-07:00

I've been enjoying filling up the end of the year

calendar with events (did I just say ENJOYING?)...

scratch that...

I want this year to be done...as in O V E R!

I want lazy summer days with my kids, to be able to stay up late

with friends and family and just be.

Four more weeks til I can have my way!

Since my last post, I picked up a few things at estate sales,

turned them into projects,

and thought I'd share how they went.

I am no an expert on reupholstering...(clearly)

I can count on two hands how many I have done.

But, in case you are wondering how easy it is...

here you go!

I bought four antique dining chairs from a guy who

no longer wanted them.

Lucky me!

I later found out that they are Eastlake, which

is old...like the seats are stuffed with horsehair old!

The original crushed velvet fabric was easily removed

to unveil this beautiful sight..uh...what?

This was my first experience finding horsehair under

the burlap and fabric.

These guys are really old!

After removing the nails (about 20 per side) with my

needle-nosed pliers, I took the chair outside and gave it a

dozen or so good heavy hits to remove all of the dirt and dust.

This took some effort as there were many years of heck knows

what to beat out of them.

I took the shop vac to it as well, and then covered

it with a fresh layer of burlap. (You could also remove the

horse hair altogether and refill it with foam, but that

seemed a bit over zealous for me...call me lazy).

I just happened to have white burlap leftover from a wreath

I made awhile ago, so I used that. I secured the burlap to the wood

with small upholstery nails. Just make sure the fabric you

use as a buffer between the horsehair and final fabric,

is thick enough to keep the horsehair from poking through.

Ouch!

I then draped a piece of fabric over the burlap and "lined it up"

to make sure the pattern was on straight.

Next, I took my time cutting away the excess fabric, making

sure not to cut it too short. You want it to line up

with the wood of the seat. It doesn't have to be exact because

you will cover it with trim...no need for perfectionism here!

A close up will show you that I am horrible at cutting a straight edge,

and thankfully that's forgivable with this project.

I have used large decorative nail heads in the past and

used a double fold to finish the job, but this time around I chose to use

a trim. Before putting the trim on, I secured the fabric with the

remaining nails.

I purchased both my fabric and trim from Pacific Fabrics in Everett.

They are so kind and helped me figure out how much I would need

for my four dining chairs.

I wanted to do two in the fabric above (to go with a dresser I have in at

Faded now), and the other two in another different pattern of fabric

to go with a dresser I just finished today. (Pics to follow.)

I got out my trusty glue gun and glued the trim...

super easy.

And here's how it turned out...

Here's a before of the dresser I picked up on Friday...

And, after much contemplation over color...

And, the other two chairs look like this...

They are truly a labor of love!

Speaking of that...my very first labor of love was...

this

girl

right

here!

She turns 17 in one week!

She is kind.

She is smart.

She is beautiful.

I am so blessed to be her mom!

Happy Birthday Chanelle!

Love you to pieces :)

Have a terrific week!

Cheree

Garage Sale Season!

2013-05-06T15:48:00.004-07:00

I am frequently asked where I find my furniture and

treasures that I bring into Faded Elegance.

Truth is, I find things anywhere and everywhere!

More common than not, I have friends and family who are looking

to get rid of old stuff and I'm eager to take whatever it is off their hands.

This weekend, however, was the unofficial kick-off to

GARAGE SALE SEASON!

My good friend, Bonnie, and I grabbed our Starbucks and were

out shopping by 8:00 AM!

The weather could not have been better and we wrapped up our

excursion in time for me to make first pitch at

my son's baseball game.

Here's a little glimpse of how it all came together...

Bonnie spied these amazing French vintage silver rimmed,

etched drinking glasses. This set came with 79 pieces

and was in perfect condition!!!

You rock Bonnie!

This Bassett dresser was from a friend of my husband's.

It's a solid piece and I chose Maison Blanche's

La Craie - "Hurricane" and "Silver Mink" to update it.

I already had the little nightstand shown here in the lower right

corner of the pic, so I decided to paint it to match the dresser.

Both would make a nice addition to any bedroom.

I broke up the 79-piece set into sets of 4's and 6's,

so that they are more affordable and more realistic

for customers. They look so beautiful next to my

vintage crystal decanter I scored this weekend.

This French looking footstool was originally acquired in Venezuela

and is in perfect condition.

I brought this little hutch in last week, but didn't have time

to post about it here. I chose Miss Mustard Seed's

Mustard Yellow Milk Paint and it is a STUNNER!

Hope this weather lasts cuz it makes garage sale hunts

so much more enjoyable!

Happy hunting!

Cheree

P.S. Thank you Bonnie! Hope we can do it again soon!

Tulips & Burlap

2013-04-30T08:48:00.004-07:00

It doesn't get much better than this!

Every Spring the Mount Vernon Valley explodes

with an abundance of color....

Daffodils and tulips

can be seen for miles and it is breathtaking!

I just snapped this with my phone, so the quality isn't great,

but you get the gist.

Susan and I soaking up the beauty of the fields and some vitamin D!

After a day of play, I took on a little project that took me

out of my comfort zone.

I purchased a little telephone table, painted it (of course)

and decided it needed a little something.

A pillow?

Yes!

However, I have very limited sewing skills.

I can mend a tear and sew a button back on,

but that's pretty much it.

I don't own a sewing machine.

What's a girl to do?

I was on a budget and had limited skills...

so I decided to go shopping for fabric and ask the experts!

I fell in love with a burlap fabric at Joanne Fabrics

and was convinced that I was up to the task, even if

I didn't have all the right tools.

I started with an old throw pillow from my daughter's

childhood bedding. Because I knew the burlap wasn't completely non-see-through,

I covered the old pillow (which was bright turquoise, white and teal)

with one of our dark brown pillow cases.

After sewing that closed, I measured out my burlap.

This first pillow I made measured 14" x 14",

so I cut a piece of burlap that measured 14-1/4 x 28-1/2".

Why?

Plan on a little extra so you can come in just a bit when securing your sides.

I also planned on folding in the last opening so it would "strengthen" my seem,

and allowing a little extra on the end enabled me to do this.

Next, I folded the rectangular piece of fabric in half (print side in, so

basically inside out).

Next, I took pins I had from a previous craft project and

pinned the sides together, leaving the end

opposite of the fold open so that I could stuff the pillow in

snug after I was done sewing the sides together.

Why pin the sides?

Pinning before sewing will allow you to have straight lines

because you thread along the pins....and without this step

I probably would end up with a lop-sided pillow!

Then, I took my needle and thread (wishing of course that I owned

a sewing machine) and sewed up the sides.

Here's a close up. (I'm horrible at tutorials, I know!).

After the sides were sewn and the pins were removed,

I turned the fabric "right side out" ...so the print

was showing... and stuffed the throw pillow in through the open end.

Next, I folded the edges of the open end in on each other and

sewed the end closed.

I know I'm making this sound complicated, but it wasn't...

Viola!

Although my finger tips were so sore after I made

the first one, I went and made another because the first sold

right after I brought it into Faded.

I'm savin' up for an inexpensive sewing machine.

I think I'm addicted!

Have a great week!

Cheree

Birthday Week

2013-04-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

My how the week has flown by!

We celebrated my son's 14th birthday

last Saturday and went to see the movie, "42".

Loved it!

Go see it!

He saved up for his first bass and after countless trips to Guitar Center,
he decided on this one.

I can't believe he is 14 already...

he's our youngest, but yet he towers over almost

our entire family (catching up with his dad!).

Then, my birthday was on Monday and my feet haven't

touched the ground since!

I wish I could say I was celebrating all week, but

I'd be lying~

It's been so busy at Faded, I think all of the dealers are

ready for a vacation!

After what seemed like weeks of shopping,

I managed to finally find the perfect accessories to fill up

the white hutch!

These "birds of paradise" dishes are so pretty with their

blue and cream pattern...love them!

My friend Katie, of Inspired By Ellee, and I are 'neighbors'

at Faded Elegance and we (she - I helped by holding the ladder lol)

put up a ladder spanning our two spaces last night.

It looks awesome!

I snagged a quick before pic of an antique telephone table.

I threw together a little Paris-inspired look with a handmade

burlap pillow (note to self: by a sewing machine...my fingertips are trashed!)

and a coat of MMS paint (typewriter) to give it a very chic look.

I don't know if it's been all of these projects, the monotonous rain,

or the fact I spent yesterday touring the

University of Washington Campus with a bunch of eighth grade students,

but I am so completely

grateful it is Friday...

I'm going to go take up residence on my cozy couch for the rest of the evening~

Have a blessed weekend!

Cheree

Spring Bits and Bobbles

2013-04-11T08:38:00.001-07:00

Spring Break has come and gone and we are headed

straight into birthdays, baseball and more birthdays.

Here's how the last few weeks have gone...

Easter weekend was absolutely heaven and we took

a day to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms in full

bloom on University of Washington campus.

It was also my husband's birthday!

It was at the top of these stairs, outside the UW music building,

almost 20 years ago,

where we used to meet in between classes!

We started taking the kids to the UW campus when they were little

to visit and it's something that we all enjoy doing.

Who knows...they may just end up there too someday!

I managed to take a few detours throughout Spring Breaks

family activities to enjoy some junkin'.

My space has changed so much over my first month

downstairs.

And, what would Spring Break be without a

few furniture make-overs?

Here's a before shot of a vanity I scooped up.

For this piece I used Maison Blanche Le Craie - Antique Blue

I also used a little gold leaf on the detailed borders.

My sweet little niece, Raya,

came to stay with us while visiting from Pullman.

Isn't she a cutie?

My friend Susan took us to see her neighbor's farm.

It did not disappoint...

chickens, a new lamb and mama...

fun adventure!

And, of course, let's not forget going from

park to park to find just the right "bars".

This girl should be a gymnast!

A treat of key lime cookies and frosting were a hit too!

Another project in the mix...

I used Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint-

"Typewriter"

Some more "new" digs at Faded...

It was an awesome month for everyone at Faded

and so much new merchandise has come in.

Days are getting longer and there's nothin' like stroll through

Historic Downtown Snohomish!

Come stop in!

Have a fantastic week!

Cheree