CondensedLoveHome

Valentine's Day

2013-01-26T12:52:00.002-08:00

Valentine's Day!

Dear Friends!

How much I miss you!!!

I have been going around like a chicken without a head, trying to get everything together: house, family (cooking and cleaning), friends (seeing at least ONE friend a week), my new business!

I love working with furniture and finding beautiful vintage treasures, but the work that goes "behind the scenes" takes way more time then the actual hunting and painting!

Just to coordinate the Social Media and Blogging, it was a very time-consuming learning experience!

I am getting better on my post on Facebook, check me out:

http://www.facebook.com/restoryhome

Writing my Blog on Wordpress has been another challenge I do miss Blogspot. But hosting my own blog is important to me, so I will keep doing it, and hopefully you all follow me there!

I just wanted to show you my first sign, which I made thinking of Valentine's Day!

I painted ASCP Country Grey, then emperor's Silk. Distressed with a wet cloth.

I chose the words and printed them on my printer, making sure the words would fit nicely on my board. Then I traced them on top of the board, using carbon paper.

I then painted the words (2 coats) with a small brush, in Country Grey.

Here you can see "let" is waxed and "me" is not waxed yet.

I used Cece Caldwell Clear Wax. I love that wax, not as sticky and smelly as ASCP Wax.

I will be writing a new post shortly on www.ReStory.ca

Please come over!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones!

Claudine

New Blog!!!

2012-12-16T22:45:00.000-08:00

New Blog!

Dear friends,

Time is flying, I cannot believe we are SO CLOSE to Christmas!!!!
I miss blogging and visiting all of you.
I am in the process of copying all the posts here to the new blog
www.restory.ca

Please make sure to visit me there!
Hugs!
Claudine

Re-purposed Mailbox and Table base!

2012-11-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

Re-purposed Mailbox and table base!

Dear friends!

Check out my new project!!!!

Please read all about it on my new website and blog:
http://www.restory.ca/re-purposed-mailbox-and-table-base/

I will be waiting!!!
Hugs,
Claudine

The Olde Farmhouse Market!

2012-11-22T00:11:00.003-08:00

Dear Friends!

You can now follow me on my new website!
Have a look at my newest post!

http://www.restory.ca/the-olde-farmhouse-christmas-market/

Hugs!
Claudine

New Website

2012-11-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

Dear friends!

I am so grateful to all of you, my readers!

As you know, I started my business, and with that,
a new name came to place.

ReStory Furnishings

I hope you love it as much as I do!

I love it because I work with previously owned furniture and vintage items. So... they already had a "life", a "story" in someone else's home.

And after I work on these items, they are "fresh" to live a "new story" in my clients' homes!

I know, I know I did not have to spell it out for you.

I also love the fact that it plays on the word "restore".

We are working hard on the new website, have you seen it yet?

www.restory.ca

We still need to find ways to get all of you connected and my website developer said I have to decide on which ways I want to have it on the site.

This is more complicated than my blogspot blog, let me tell you! I admire fellow bloggers that can do all themselves!

But soon it will all be in place!

I have been migrating the posts and soon all the posts you have here, you will have there.

I am also working on my Facebook page for ReStory,
you can find it here:
http://www.facebook.com/restoryhome

Once I see at least all my followers are there, I will shut down CondensedLoveHome.

I hope to see you soon at ReStory.ca

Thank you so much for always supporting me!

Claudine

Milk Glass

2012-10-28T22:18:00.002-07:00

Dear friends!

I have been working hard on building my new website and my business!
My hope is by the New Year to have all of you reading my blog on ReStory.ca

I now have a Facebook page for ReStory, also!

I will be duplicating posts for now so you can follow me in both blogs!

Just thought I would share my Milk Glass collection!
My friend Pam gave me this beautiful cake plate last week, which inspired me to bring a few pieces to my dinning table.

I made a cake this afternoon but something went wrong... So tomorrow I am trying again! I need a cake for my new cake plate!
Hugs,
Claudine

Chair for Charity Event!

2012-10-14T23:48:00.002-07:00

Dear friends!

I am excited to participate in a fundraiser that my ASCP supplier is organizing, to help the Langley Christmas Bureau.

They asked participants to restore a chair and donate so they can auction at their event on October 25th.

Here are some photos of my chair!

I love it...

I actually did not want to send them this picture, in hope that I would find another chair to donate, LOL!

I have plans for her... Actually, it looks more like a him, don't you think?? He looks like a serious chair!

An here it is Mr. Chair all done up!

He will be auctioned at The Passionate Home event
this Thursday!

Rocking Elephant!!!

2012-10-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I miss you terribly!
But instead of blabbing about WHY I haven't posted recently,
I am going to show you my latest project!

My husband's family is in town and we have a 2-year old grandaughter.
I could not resist when I saw this wooden rocking elephant on Craigslist!!!

My friend Jeff gave him new rocking legs!!!

Can you see "KAMRON" written above the tail?

Awwww... I wonder where is Kamron now!

Since I was painting it put in a little girls room, I gave it a coat of ASCP Paris Gray...

Then a coat of ASCP Antoinette...

Then I distressed quite a bit, because I wanted the grey to show underneath. and I gave it a coat of Cece Caldwell Satin Finish.

Asha LOVED IT! She jumped right on it when she saw it!

I will try to get a picture of her on it to show you!

Yesterday she noticed the elephant had a boo-boo...

The nose is broken! I just noticed this after I had bought it.

And here is what she did:

Can you se the Band-Aid??? LOL!!!

She is adorable!!!

I was thinking of repairing it, but it looks great with the Band-Aid, don't you think?

I will be writing more posts SOON!

Hugs galore to all my readers!

I am bringing this Pink Elephant to party at:

Peachy Dessert

2012-08-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I wrote this recipe on my first post, which very few people read it!
It comes with the story of WHY my blog is name
Condensed Love:

Once I had a few friends home for dinner, and my friend Justine kept asking me what was in my Peachy Dessert... I kept telling her it was "looove" and finally I said: "looove and CONDENSED MILK"!! And she said: it is

"Condensed Love"...

I am from Brazil, and I say we put condensed milk in everything, lol!

So here it is my recipe for what I call "Peachy Dessert"!

Peachy Dessert

2 cans of condensed milk

2 cans of milk (use the cond. milk can to measure it)

3 heaping tbsp of corn starch dissolved in 1/2 can of milk

2 cans of carnation thick cream

2 cans of peaches in light syrup (or 1 big glass jar as you see here)

Maria biscuits or any tea biscuit will do (I used Arrowroot this time)

It is super easy!!!
Heat the condensed milk dissolved with milk in a sauce pan.

When it is starting to boil, stir in the corn starch dissolved with milk.

It should start thickening right the way. It should have the consistency of pudding.

Set aside.

Separate the peaches syrup from the peaches, and dip the biscuits in the syrup.

In a dish ( I use a rectangular dish, like the one I use for lasagna - but tis time I used a "nicer" one), start placing the

biscuits side by side. Pour half of the condensed milk cream on it.

Put a layer of chopped peaches (I use about 2/3 of the peaches because inside the layers they keep fresher than on top).

Put another layer of biscuits.

Add the 2 cans of thick cream (make sure you discard that water that forms in the can - I don't know the English word for it) to the remaining condensed milk custard. Sometimes it get lumpy, because the thick cream is cold, the custard is warm... but it tastes smooth. Pour over the biscuits; add the rest of the peaches.

Refrigerate for about 2 hours!

And yes, you can change the fruit, but I would not use fresh fruit except for berries in the summer. I have never tried with other fruits, by the way.

I hope you enjoy!!!

I am sharing this recipe at:

And at Keeping it Simple Party!

Duck Egg Blue Rocking Chair

2012-08-26T12:15:00.001-07:00

Dear friends!

I am so excited to share with you this sweet chair
I painted for my friend Sue!
Sue saw the potential on this baby when she saw it at the Olde Farmhouse Vintage Fair end of June!

Sue loves color, so she wanted it painted blue. First I gave it two coats of shellac, to avoid the problem I had with my mom's bed... Then I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Old White.

I gave it a nice coat of ASCP Duck Egg Blue. I distressed a bit, to show the white underneath.

This time instead of Annie Sloan clear wax, I tried
Cece Caldwell Satin Finish. It is a hard finish that you apply with a foam brush. The look and feel is pretty much the same as the wax, but I did not have to buff afterwards! I gave it two coats. Now it needs to cure for a week.

Here is a close up:

And here without the throw:

I wish I was back into sewing, to sew a beautiful pillow for it!

My next post will be my peachy dessert, step-by-step with instructions!!!
Hugs,
Claudine

I am so excited to share this project at:

Me, Myself and I

2012-08-18T10:57:00.002-07:00

Dear friends,

Suzan, from Simply Vintageous, nominated me for "Tell me about yourself Award". Suzan is adorable. She has an upbeat personality and it is always supportive in her comments. She has a wonderful blog, visit her if you have a minute!

In order to accept this award I need to say 7 things about myself and nominate 7 bloggers out there to do the same!
I hope I will find 7 interesting things to say about myself, LOL!
Here we go:
1. I LOVE a good LAUGH. I laugh at myself, I laugh about silly things, and I laugh when I am not supposed to. Like if you fall or trip in front of me, I will laugh. It is good most of the time, but sometimes is bad... LOL!

2. My husband David is my third husband, and is actually my fiancee. We were supposed to get married in May 2012 but decided not to because we had too many things going on this year - my son's Graduation in June and his daughter's Wedding in September. He is my THIRD husband and I am his THIRD wife. I don't really understand exactly WHY we want to get married... Third time lucky???

3. I HATE raw onions and bananas!

4. I am picky with food. Everything needs to be really CLEAN in the preparation or I won't eat it... it grosses me out if people try out of the pan, or leave food out on the counter too long, etc.

5. I HATE trying clothes!! I love buying stuff for the house, but cannot stand shopping for myself...

6. I am a scaredy cat. I am afraid of bugs such as spiders... and I am afraid of strangers, for example I won't open the door to someone I don't know.

7. I have never been this happy. I found this new business and wonderful blogging friends which brought a new light into my life. I am so grateful.

I have many bloggers I love, let me pick 7 that I have not nominated yet:

Janine, from A Bit of Whimsy
Donna, from Funky Junk Interiors
4 Sisters, from Bringing Beauty
Lady Pamela, from Lady Pamela's Cottage
Kristel, from The Velvet Door
Crafty Canadian from Crafty in Canada
Tammy, from A Walk in the Country Side

If you have a chance, go check them out!
Enjoy your weekend!
Claudine

Rocking chair!!!

2012-08-15T17:57:00.003-07:00

Dear friends!!!
I am happy to say I AM HOME!!!
I had fun with my brother and I was sad to to leave him but
I am so happy to be home and start my "normal" life.

I still feel that "tightness" in my heart from leaving him but
I know it will pass as I get busier.

I have LOTS of projects to do and the FIRST on my list is a rocking chair for my friend Sue.
Do you remember this chair? Sue fell in love with it and asked me to paint it for her.

I am not sure if she wants the cushions, but they are looking pretty "drabby"(is that a word???)
to me...

Sue wants the chair painted Duck Egg Blue, like this table I painted.
I think it will look great!!!!

I should have it ready in a week!!!

I miss you ALL!!!
Talk to you SOON!
Claudine

Harrods in London

2012-08-06T10:10:00.002-07:00

Dear Friends,
I miss you so much.
I am in London with my brother and we have so much to do, I have not really had the time to take nice pictures but I think of you often. I always wonder what I could share with you.
So I was at Harrods today and took some pictures.
This store is very famous in London. It is full of designer's clothes, handbags, etc.There are 4 or 5 floors of stuff to see. Also several restaurants. We were there a few times and had pizza once and Chinese food twice.
Today we had Ice Cream. I just wanted to share a few items they have in their food market.
It is a must see if you come to London!

Me coming out of Harrods... Faaancyyyy, LOL!
This is the guard at the door!

My brother found so interesting to have a basket ONLY with fruit to give as a gift to someone health-conscious! Not me, please!

I would rather have candyyyy!!!

Chocolates...

Fudge...

Or a chocolate BAR...

The Gold Bars are to celebrate the God Medals at the Olympics.

But this is where we ended up!

Really Glamorous Ice Cream Parlour...

Mine!

My brother's.

I will leave you with that!
Hugs galore,

Claudine

My First Upholstery Job!

2012-07-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

Dear friends!!!

I bought this adorable little foot stool a while ago. I loved it. It even has some storage, I guess to keep your sewing supplies?

It was painted inside but I painted again in ASCP Duck Egg Blue. I guess the previous owner had stripped the color because it had some smudges of paint but I liked it like that, so I left it. (I just noticed Enzo in the background, LOL)

It was quite a pain to upholster it, I had to unscrew the lid and then after it was upholstered I had to screw it back. I had to find new screws and some of the old ones were too old.

Here I am all happy with stupidity... Seriously, this is not a happy story!!!!
The compressor hose BROKE and scared the hell out of me!!! My husband said: SIT DOWN. You are DONE. And handed me a bag of candy... It was that bad!!!!

Anyway, another day I finished what I had started this day, which were the corners. The stool does not have sharp corners. I am not sure if that made it harder or not, but in my first upholstery workshop I only worked with a chair seat, which had sharp corners.

See what I mean? The bating kind of "bundled" there and now the stool WON'T CLOSE!!!

It actually matches this chair... I put it there so you have an idea of the size. It can be used as a foot stool. Or you can have it in a corner, like I did when Maria come over. I put in a corner of her room with her towels on top. It is great to pack a luggage, since you can sit on it and you are lower to the ground.
But now I have to undo the corners, cut some of the bating and do it again.
I also thought about putting something from the Graphics Fairy on top, but one of my friends fell in love with it and she said she wanted it plain. I hope she still likes it, LOL!
Thank you so much for reading!!!
Cheers,
Claudine

My brother's living room

2012-07-21T19:05:00.002-07:00

Dear friends,
I was in Brazil last week, and took a few pictures of my brother's apartment to show you.
I did not want to show his whole place so I picked the living room and my favourite pieces.
He has a big living room, and it is divided in different areas, including TV room, a sitting room, a dining room and also a long area by the windows. In this area we have another table (his favourite, because we can see the ocean from there) and sofas as well.

The door is all leather, I don't know where he got this idea from. I never saw anything like that!

I love the big mirror and the rug...

His beautiful dining table. You can see a little sofa at the end, that is part of a long area which before was a balcony that he opened.

The chandelier is STUNNING.

It is not crystal, I don't know what it is... I touched and it felt like some kind of stone.

This is the area that was once a balcony. To the right of these first chairs is the dining room, and to the right of the table is the sitting room.

This row of chairs is part of the sitting room. Right in front of it there are other two big leather chairs. Opposite to the beige sofa there is a sideboard, which backs to another sofa that is part of the TV room, which I am not showing.
You can see the smaller table at the end, the one he likes the most, because it is smaller and we have the view.

This chair is one of my favourite pieces in his house.

Adorable!

WOOOWWW... That's all I can say.

I hope you liked the tour!
If you want to marry him, you need to move to Brazil, LOL!
Claudine

Furniture Hunting in Lynden WA

2012-07-15T17:09:00.004-07:00

Dear friends!!!
I miss YOU!!!!
My life has been CRAZY lately: my mom and our friend left, July 4th.
A week later, my mom did not feel well and my brother asked me to come to Brazil!!! So here I am!!!! Don't hate me (LOL)!

My mom is FINE. It was just a scare. But the family being together makes everybody better!

Last week on Tuesday, me and my friend Ingrid went to Lynden, WA. In our adventures we met my friend Kelley, and she showed us a great Thrift Store in Bellingham!

Dining chair

When we first arrived in Lynden, we saw a street (Front Street) full of antique stores. Very cute, and less expensive than Fort Langley (a city closer to me).

Close-up

From there we met Kelley and we went to the Goodwill in Bellingham. Only one stop and I filled my car... because, OF COURSE, I fell in love with the first thing I saw: a round dinning table with 4 chairs... I am more and more defining my style. I like big pieces. I like hunting for treasures but I enjoy big treasures, LOL!

Passing in the border... LOL!!!! I was so excited about my dining set I FORGOT to keep the receipt with me! So it was BURIED in a bag or a basket, tucked behind my seat, with all the big pieces on top! The guard asked me how much I spent and I said... and he said: ONLY??? For this car full of STUFF??? You got a DEAL!
I was trying to be helpful and show him what was inside the car, so I opened the back window... and this is what he saw...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Ok, I have to say my husband was not so happy to have to take the heavy table out of the car in 30C heat.

Little things we bought at Front Street, Lynden

We had to take the base of the table off to fit in the car...

I can't wait to get my hands in all this stuff!!!
Thank you so much for your patience, I will try to write another post this week!
Cheers,
Claudine

Sunshine Award!!

2012-07-01T23:56:00.002-07:00

My dear friend Donna, from Distressed Donna Down Home was so kind to pass me the Sunshine Award!

I am flattered, to say the least! THANK YOU, Donna!

I can see why you received the Sunshine Award, you are always cheerful and supportive in your comments to me!

The Sunshine Award promotes bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the Blogsphere! To be worthy, one must answer ten questions so others can know a little more about you and pass along the award to ten other bloggers.

Brace yourself, here is some info about moi!

1. Favorite color? Oh, shoot! WHITE, if we are talking about decoration... GRAY to wear... I am BORIIING like that!!!

2. Favorite animal? My first thought would be HORSE. I guess girls have a fascination for horses?? But I am crazy about my dogs Enzo(a Sheltie) and Axel(German Shepherd).

3. Favorite number? 12! Me, my brother, my son and my niece were all born on a 12!

4. Favorite drink? I'm so boring... Diet PEPSI, NO ice, with lime, pleeease!!!

5. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook!

6. Good book or good movie? I am into BRAINLESS kind of movies, the ones that make you laugh... I want to rest my brain... SO, comedies! I loved Hall Pass!!! LOL!!! I know, don't hate me, I can be kind of "crude" in my movie taste... perhaps because I have a son who made me watch every stupid teenager movie out there???!!!

7. My passion? Cooking and antiques! I have to say that I also LOVE helping people. If you say you have a party to organize... I just can't keep my mouth shut! I have to volunteer to help!!'

8. Giving or getting presents? Giving. Specially to children!

9. Favorite day? I absolutely LOVE Thursdays. Always have! I am not sure if it is because is only one day from the weekend?

10. Favorite flower? Daisies! This was my favourite flower growing up. Now I developed a taste for Roses and a passion for Peonies...

I would like to pass this award to amazing bloggers who have been so supportive of me!

It was VERY difficult to pick only ten, I have been so lucky to have so many amazing blogging friends!

Leanne, from Because (I Think) I Can!

Suzan, from Simply Vintageous

Carolyn, from Desire Empire

Tracey, from Raggy Girl Vintage

Kathryn, from Ugly Duckling Transformations

Sherry, from Decorating with Cents

Vanessa, from A White Barn

Laura, from I'm So Vintage

Connie, from Crafty Home Cottage

Steve, from Woodworking and Good Eats

Here is how this award works:

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them
Answer the above 10 questions about yourself
Select 10 more bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they’ve been awarded the Sunshine Award!
Don’t forget to copy and paste the award on your blog!

Hugs,

Claudine

My first Vintage Market!

2012-06-25T11:42:00.001-07:00

Dear friends!!!
I am overjoyed (is that tacky???) with so many people reading my blog, THANK YOU!!!
My blog just completed 4 months yesterday, and I OWE you a condensed milk recipe!!!
Saturday I participated in my FIRST Vintage Market!
The Olde Famhouse Vintage Market was a success!!!

I thought that table and the body form would go for sure, but they didn't! The chalkboard sold! My silver tea set had lots of interest, but I am thinking people are not so crazy about silver... I am alone in this one, LOL!

I sold a few items showing here: white jug on top, vintage little pitcher on second shelf, milk glass on the bottom of bookcase; Also sold the pink leather chairs. They were SO COMFY! One had a rip, and I was supposed to re-upholster it... but... NO.

I sold the pink ice cream bowls, the stainless steel coffee pot and the silver candle holders.

I sold this BEAUTIFUL carpenter box and the white candle holder. The lady bargained on the candle holder, and I sold for $20, only to realise later that I PAID $20 AND PAINTED IT!!!
AHAHAHAAAHAHAHA!!!!
Please, tell me you did this once, too!!!

The trunk and bread box were gone too, and so were the blue candle holders on top of the bread box. The red Parlour Chest did not move! I am this close to painting it white!!!

My friend Kelley, The Upholster's Wife, invited me to share a booth with her. Look at her stuff!

I bought the blue little magazine rack in front of the yellow table...

Adorable pieces painted and picked by The Upholster's Wife...

I felt my part was kind of empty, and also I missed something in the background, like curtains and a banner! Next time!
I also wanted to share with you my
MOST TALKED ABOUT ITEM!!!!

This is a BUG SPRAYER, from back then. I have no idea how old it is. Made in England.

I bought it a long time ago because it reminded me of my Grandma. Since now I am starting this business, selling antiques, I thought it would be a cool thing to bring to The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market. I priced it $40, I have no idea how much I paid, it was years ago. Maybe it was overpriced? Nobody bought it. But we had lots of fun talking about it! Some people did not know what it was, and some people could SMELL the DDT just looking at it, LOL!!!!

I had an amazing time at The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market. Leah and Barb, the organisers, were wonderful. The vendors were so kind and had awesome stuff! I also met some fellow bloggers like Kathryn from Ugly Duckling Transformations and Tracey from Raggy Girl Vintage! And of course, we had amazing customers, people that came from far to see us! Put that together with a few friends and family... SUCCESS!!!
We are looking forward to next year's Market!

My mom's updated bedroom

2012-06-16T06:59:00.001-07:00

Update!!!

So you "voted" and I painted the bed!!!

Here are the pictures of this room NOW!

Notice her pink mirror...

And the daisies...

I had so much trouble with this headboard... had to apply shellac (read at Annie Sloan website) because the paint kept bleeding trough... I took the pillows off so you can see better.

I chose light gray bedding sheets and towels for my mom.

This is a fluffy bed!!!

It shows funny in the picture but it looks quite white in "reality". More details in the "footboard" than the headboard.

And of course, my mom also got a gift box with goodies!
The bed again...

And without the pillows!
Thank you so much to everyone that motivated me to paint it!
And here is the old post, if you want to check the "before" pictures!
Today I am partying at:

Maria's Bedroom

2012-06-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
My mom came from Brazil and brought our dear friend, Maria, with her. Maria knows my son since he was a baby and she also came to see his High School Graduation. Such a special guest deserved her very own bedroom, of course!
So I transformed my office into a bedroom for her. They arrived today and are fast asleep in their fresh and fluffy beds! You can see the update in my mom's bedroom here (yes, I painted that bed!).
Maria's bed!

My husband could not cut the wall to get a sample of the paint to have it matched. SO I had to wing it... and I was OFF, LOL! This morning I made a flower out of music sheet paper and put on top of the "boo-boo" you see by the mirror. I am going to make two more flowers and take a picture to show you.

As soon as I saw this bed, I fell in love...

I will have to keep it... ( I took this picture before washing the bedding sheets, so they are all wrinkled)

When my mom saw this mirror, she said: isn't that MY MIRROR... (that's WHY I PAINTED HER BED, I knew she would be jealous, LOL!) I said, NO, that's not your mirror...

Adorable bedding sheets...

I had to keep the printer and the computer there.

On the left is the cabinet I keep all my office stuff!

Unfortunately I will have to take this dresser out
and replace it with my desk. But I love this dresser, too!

Gerbera Daisies and a candle...

A little gift box with soap, socks and a hand cream...

The milk glass is to keep her jewellery...
She already unpacked and put jewellery in it!

I normally keep ALL my purses on this hanger!
I cleaned up for Maria!

She got beautiful new towels. More on the stool later...

And here is the bed again!!!
Don't you want to be my guest, too??

I am sharing this bedroom at:

Unusual Garden Planters

2012-06-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

Dear friends!!!
On the "quest" to make the house ready for my mom,
I had to plant some flowers around...
I am NOT a gardener, but one of my best friends,
Ingrid, IS!!!!
SO, on Friday she came over and off to the garden center
we went!!!
Ladies. I need to make a parentheses here just to let you know my head is SPINNING from my first upholstery job
(on my own). The compressor hose BROKE and scared the hell out of me!!! It was already more than 9pm and David said: "you are done." LOL!! And he gave me some candy and told me to sit down! So here I am!!!
Ok, back to the flowers!
I am just going to show you! I am sure you are also tired and just want some eye candy!!!

Pickle Jars made in Canada! Loved them!

We planted Dahlias and Lavender and the other yellow flower that looks like a daisy in each one.

It took me a while to get bark mulch in both sides of the front yard. Now it looks too brown... So we are working on brightening up, but I don't want to plant a bunch of bushes, because that's how it was before...

These are in the back. Basically there is a square of gravel and one post on each side. There is grass on either side of the gravel.
Back to the front door(remember those 2 little plants on the floor):

Picked those 2 kettles in a garage sale.

Ingrid tried to take that Fern out

but couldn't, so we just left it alone.

We tried to plant a Fairy Garden since I saw many of them in Blogland recently!

And remember those little plants on the floor?

I was inspired but Sherry from The Charm of Home.
She planted a pansy in a creamer in Spring, and I fell in love!

I think this succulent is a little "unruly" LOL!

I liked the grass in the creamer better!

I hope you have fun with unusual containers this Summer!

I a sharing my planters at:

Antique Bed and Dresser

2012-06-07T23:36:00.001-07:00

Oh My God, ladies...

(I am not aware of any male reader, hehe!)
This decoration business is not for sissies!!!!
My body is SORE from so much moving things around!!!
I am preparing for The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market in June, so my house is FULL.
AFTER I decorated my guest room for my mom's arrival,
I found this beautiful bed and dresser I could not pass.

This beautiful set belonged to the gentleman's aunt. It was passed on to him. He said it should be from the 30's or older.
This was before:

So, since I had already finished the bedroom, I thought I would "store" the "new" antique set until my mom
had left. She had already seen pictures of her room in the blog, so she is expecting her pink mirror...

Awww...

But this is what she is getting instead:

I run out of space to put it.

This is so heavy, we even tried to put it in the office

(I am turning the office into another guest room

for our friend Maria to stay)

but the mirror covered the window, LOL!!!!

See the little rubber thingys under its feet??

My friend Kika told me to buy the, at Rona!

So I could actually SLIDE this heavy baby from the office back to the guest room without much effort!

I did not know about it... duh. Sometimes I put a rug under furniture to slide it somewhere.

But this is much better!My son and husband had to lift it so I could put it there. SO I did not want to bother them tonight to take it out. I will ask on Saturday.

Poor guys are also tired of moving stuff around.

I love the detail... I think I should NOT paint it...

My mom will like that she will have plenty of room

to put her clothes!

The bed is a little scratched. So I want to paint it white...

Do you think it is OK to paint the bed but

leave the dresser as is?

The paint will hide the beautiful details...

It would be nice with more white pillows but these pillows have photos of my son, my brother and my niece, so I thought it would be fitting to have it in my mom's bed. The flowers on the wall need to be re-arranged closer to the headboard, since the Ikea bed was taller.

I put the pillows down so you could have a better view of the headboard.

I think it would look gorgeous in ASCP Old White...

Since the furniture in this room was much LIGHTER, I could actually store it with no problems!

I have a friend that wants the Ikea bed. The table I painted and also the pink mirror will be for sale at

The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market!

I am showing off my "new" antique room at:

Parlour Chest!!!!

2012-06-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone!!
Between my son's graduation, preparing for The Vintage Market and my mom's arrival next week, things have been quite busy here. I am sore from moving furniture, LOL!

I just wanted to show you my latest finds!!!
I got this "red box" from the same lady that sold me the Lamp Post! She did not know quite how to call it.

I fell in love...

But did not like the Asian painting on it...

I was ready to do my "thang", paint WHITE and DISTRESS it, when my friend Pam said: NOOOOO!!! Leave it alone!!!
This is three million years old (my words, not hers, LOL)!!!

SO, this will be up for grabs at The Vintage Market!!!
Since I am not a fan of red (for my house)!

Now, "The Secret" must have happened (you know, "like" attracts "like" because last night I found another one!!!!!
YEEEESSS!!!! And the lady called it "Parlour Chest"!!!
She said it was used to carry magazines!!!
Awwww.... So here is my new treasure!!!

Isn't it adorable???

I wish I could use it as a mail box in front of the house, but somebody might steal it!
I am keeping this beauty!!! The sweet lady told me it belonged to her aunt, "and she would be happy for you to have it"... Awww... poor lady barely got a word in because I talked non-stop!!! I think I made her dizzy!!!
She also had a box of books she was giving away and she asked me if I wanted any. I spotted this Etiquette book and asked if she was giving that one away, too! She said yes!
She said it was a famous book, by Emily Post!

I said I recognised the name! So there!
My FIRST VINTAGE book!!!

I need 2 more to make a bundle, now! And put on a table, like Miss Mustard Seed! I normally don't look at books at thrift stores, but I might, now! But this one has a special meaning, because she gave me!

Ok, this was my morning adventure!!!
In the afternoon I met a guy that rents medieval furniture and utensils for the movie industry, another load of fun!!!
But I will post about the afternoon treasures another day!!!

I just cannot believe how many WONDERFUL people I am meeting because of this blog, and the start of my business! I was always impressed by people's generosity (as a fundraiser), but I am shocked by the amount of amazing people I am meeting (virtually and in person)!!!

God bless you all!!!
Claudine
Today I am partying at:

Stand Lamp turned Candle holder!

2012-06-01T11:00:00.002-07:00

Dear friends!!!
I am behind on my posts!!!
So I bought this old lamp post from a lady that refurbishes furniture for 25 years... she is moving and needed to get rid of her stuff.
She gave me the idea to turn it into a candle holder...

So I took it apart...

Cleaned and took the wiring out... and the light bulb socket...
And painted it with ASCP Old White! Distressed a bit and...

TA-DAAA!!!!!

My friend Pam bought it the night she came help me pricing for the Fair, so I took these pictures in a hurry!!!!

We needed something for AROUND the candle, so I got a cheap fake pearl necklace I had...

I was going to hang some crystals (I am not sure you can see it but there are 3 little screws we can hang crystals from) on the base, but she said she had crystals for it at home!

I owe you a picture of it in Pam's house, she added the crystals and put a red candle on it, I can't wait to see it!!!

This is a GREAT SIMPLE project and the result was amazing!!!

Today I am partying at:

http://www.finecraftguild.com/party/

My First Fair!!!

2012-05-28T13:33:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,
Last Saturday I participated in my first fair!
It was a school Spring Fair here in my city.
My friend Kika kids study there and she asked me if
I wanted to participate, for experience!
The table cost only $25 so what did I have to lose?

The Fair was GREAT!

By the time I took this picture I had already sold three items. Two of them did not make ANY photo...

I tried to make some silver trays with chalkboard paint in the middle... argghh did not turn out so good...

SO, I kept doing the stuff I like, my painting!

The 2 candle holders on the left sold!

The silver pot on the right, sold!

The silver "thingy" behind the teapot sold, too.

You can see it opened in the picture below. My friend Pam suggested to put cu-tips in the lid and cotton balls in the "body" of the container. Who knows what the real use was for? (I loved them... do you have a hard time letting stuff GO?)

For my first experience, I say it was a success!
I sold 9 pieces. All kinds of items, some stuff I painted but most of them were treasures found here and there.

The chubby candle holder on the very left was sold, also.
The cake plate on the back was also sold, here is a better picture:

When I told my friend Christine I wanted to make cake plates, she gave me this one... And it was the first one SOLD!

I was reluctant to glue the plates to the bases but Pam encouraged me and SHE CHOSE this winning combination!!

Here are the other ones she suggested!
I don't know why I am such a chicken!

If they don't sell, I can always keep them!
These pictures I took with my cell. I have some in my camera, like a candlestick I made from an old lamp, ADORABLE... But my friend Pam came to help me price the items and fell in love with it!!! I am so flattered she bought it Friday night and took it home, LOL!!! We even had a fight over the price, what a dilemma is to sell to friends!!!
I appreciate suggestions on a policy in how to sell to friends, if you have it!

This mirror was my biggest item sold!

I painted the white mirror. I got lots of interest in it but did not sell it. I love it... I love everything I sell, lol!

My friend Kelley, from The Upholster's Wife, suggested me to make the chalkboard out of an old frame, to write Condensed Love Home, on it! Pam suggested to add ASCP painted furniture to add interest!
AMAZING how everybody comes together to help us, right?
I feel so blessed!

I better get started in my bigger items for the Vintage Market! That's coming up SOON!!!