Lovely etc.

How to get your creative groove back

2012-05-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Lately I have been a bit absent here at Lovely Etc. I also haven’t done anything creative or crafty in a few weeks. That what happens sometimes when real life gets in the way.

Well, this weekend I decided that I was ready to get back in the swing of things. I have missed creating and making old junk beautiful and sharing it with all of you.

But being creative is sometimes easier said than done. So I sat down and really thought about what has helped me before when I was in a slump. This is what I found helps.

Don’t force it.

Creativity isn’t something that you can force. Sometimes you need a little break and that’s okay. Everyone needs to recharge sometimes.

Take care of the clutter.

Life not only got in the way of my creative endeavors the last few weeks, it got in the way of a lot of other things. Mail, laundry, and random stuff had piled up everywhere. Whenever I sat down to try to blog or start a project, all I could think about was all of that junk. There was no way I could focus on a project until I took care of it.

Clutter can also be mental. You may have stuff on your mind that you just can’t shake. If it is a task that needs to be done, take care of it. If it is something deeper, talk to someone or write about it in a journal.

Find a project that excites you.

Don’t try to force yourself to do the project that has been waiting or that makes sense. Find something that ignites a spark in you – something that seems intriguing or fun. After all – that is kind of the point. Yeah maybe you have been meaning to make curtains for the family room for months but if that seems like a huge yawn right now, start with something else. (Ahem, note to self).

Find a little inspiration.

Sometimes you need a little help to find that project that gets you excited. We probably all know by now that Pinterest is a great place for inspiration. But my favorite sources of inspiration are antique stores and yard sales. I love finding unique items and trying to imagine what they could be or how they could be transformed.

Just start something already!

You could wait forever looking for the perfect project or technique. Or worrying about what the end result is going to look like. But then you would never start – and you would take all of the joy out of it. Once you find something you are excited about trying…try it!

Those are my tips. As for me, I definitely took a break. And I spent the weekend doing some cleaning and looking for inspiration. Now, to find a project that really excites me and get to it already!

Have any other great tips to add?

See the potential

2012-05-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today’s message – look past the dirt and junkiness and find the potential.

I love yard sales and all the treasures they hold. But as I’m sure you know, most of the treasures start out looking like…well, just a bunch of junk.

Yard sales are the perfect place to really fuel your creativity. When I see something at a yard sale, I immediately begin thinking about what it could become.

Perhaps it just needs a fresh coat of paint or a good cleaning. But my favorite finds often end up becoming something totally different from what they were originally intended to be. The trick is to not just see what something is but what it can become.

Here are some of my own favorite transformations.

Retro clocks turned glam mirrors

Vintage hardware turned jewelry

Vintage earring turned hardware

Silver tray turned magnetic chalkboard

Vanity turned nightstands

Broken birdbath turned pedestal table

This is the final week of my yard sale series. I hope you have enjoyed it because I have. Starting next week, instead of sharing tips I will be sharing all of the fabulousness I have been finding at yard sales myself. (Hopefully!)

So what are your favorite yard sale transformations? Is is easy for you to see the potential in a piece of junk or does it take lots of effort and pinterest searching to come up with a great idea?

I’m still here!

2012-05-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday!

Perhaps you have noticed that posts have been a bit scarce around here this past week. It seems crazy to think that people really care what is going on here at Lovely Etc. but for anyone who has noticed, don’t worry – everything is fine. I have been dealing with some personal stuff and have been under the weather so things have been a bit slower as far as completing projects.

Because of this I have decided to take a bit of an online vacation for the rest of this week.

But do not fear – this is just a brief hiatus! I have tons of ideas and a basement overflowing with projects to work on and I will be back full-force on Monday with the next installment of my yard sale series.

And in the meantime, you can find me over at Lolly Jane today where I am sharing a cabinet door turned ombre sign. Be sure to stop by and check it out.

And soon it will be the most wonderful time of the year – summer vacation! (Yes, by day I am a school counselor – a job I love. But who wouldn’t be excited about two months off work every summer – only a fool, that’s who.) Oh, the many hours I will have to work on projects to my heart’s content – can’t wait.

Also, a big thanks to everyone for your help with my name that flower question – I knew you guys would know the answer!

See you back here Monday.

Name that flower

2012-04-25T07:00:00.002-04:00

Today I am in need of a little help.

I love DIYing and decorating but gardening is beyond me. I do NOT have a green thumb. Luckily the area around my house is wooded because let’s just say I go for the natural look when it comes to landscaping.

Luckily for me, the previous owners of our house were wonderful gardeners and planted lots of gorgeous flowers. And luckily, they continue to flourish even with no help from me.

But here is my conundrum. Even though I am a total doofus at growing flowers, I am generally pretty good at identifying them. But these beauties have me stumped. (Even my go to authority – my grandmother - wasn’t quite sure what they are.)

The blooms are not only gorgeous, they are also huge. Around 6-8 inches in diameter! The grow on bushes and I have hot pink, light pink, purple, and yellow versions.

So what do you think? Anyone have any guesses? Granny thought maybe some sort of peony? I’m betting one of you will definitely know. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

The Nice Girl’s Guide to Haggling

2012-04-23T07:00:00.002-04:00

I love to shop yard sales for many reasons. I love that they are full of unique things you just don’t find at Target. I love the thrill of searching out that one amazing treasure in a huge pile of junk. And I absolutely love getting a great bargain.

If yard sale goods didn’t have such great prices, they really wouldn’t be so exciting.

So how do you get these great prices? Some sellers certainly don’t seem to realize they are selling used stuff off of plastic tables on their lawn and are a bit delusional in their pricing. But, thankfully, most people having yard sales just want to get rid of unwanted stuff and make a little cash in the process.

The Nice Girl’s Guide to Haggling

As previously mentioned, yard sales are not like Target. Prices are very flexible. Most sellers expect people to bargain. I used to feel bad about trying to haggle for a better price on things that are already so inexpensive. But I realized that the seller is there to sell stuff and I am there to buy stuff. If we can find a way to make that happen, everyone is happy.

When I think about haggling, I picture stony-faced old men who talk about how horrible something is to get a better price for it. I don’t talk badly about the item I’m trying to buy. If it were really so horrible why would I want to buy it? I also do not insult the seller’s intelligence or argue.

I want to get the best price but what can I say – I’m a nice girl. I don’t want to have to be mean to get a deal. I have refined my haggling technique to get me the good prices with no need to feel guilty afterwards. These are my tried and true strategies.

Have an idea of how much you are willing to pay for something before you ask the price. Pay attention to prices when you go to sales and you will soon see patterns emerge. I have a great collection of vintage cameras. I paid $15 for one of my very first ones. With time, I realized that I could usually find them for $2 – $5 so that became my limit.

When you find something you like, ask the price. Once the seller tells you a price, look at the item a few more minutes without saying anything. This gives you a chance to think about whether or not you are willing to pay that price. Sometimes the seller wants to get rid of stuff so badly, that as soon as you hesitate, they jump in with a new lower price.
If you think their price is a little high, ask nicely, “Will you take x?” They will either agree, meet you in the middle with a new price, or say no. Most of the time, they agree. Don’t go too crazy. Sometimes I just ask them to knock a dollar off. Sometimes I ask for more.
If they are waffling, get out your cash and hold it in your hand. Just the sight of cold hard cash (even tiny amounts) can really motivate a seller.
If you are buying more than one item, try to get one discounted price for the whole pile. This almost always works. Win-win. They get rid of more stuff, you pay less.

If I recently bought a very similar item for less, I tell them. “I just bought a bunch of frames just like this for a dollar each. Would you give me the same price?” Many sellers agree.
If they refuse to budge on the price and you feel it is too high, don’t be afraid to just walk away. It is your money and nobody decides when you spend it but you.
And if the price they give me to begin with is more than fair, I don’t even try to haggle. I think to myself, “Well, I really like this lady. She knows what she’s doing – I’m going to see if I can find something else worth buying here.”

So there it is – The Nice Girl’s Guide to Haggling. I am linking this post up at Coastal Charm, Home Stories A to Z, and Serenity Now.

What about you – do you haggle? Are you hard core or more of a softie like me? Do you have any other tips to share?

6 Ideas for vintage doorknobs

2012-04-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have shared my vintage doorknob stash a couple of times. Recently I got an email asking for a link to the projects I had done using my doorknobs. A very good question – where was that link? Oh that's right, I didn’t do anything with them yet. Yikes.

They are still stashed away waiting for inspiration. So I decided it was definitely time to round up some fresh inspiration. If you happen to find some awesome vintage doorknobs, here are some great ways to use them. (Other than putting them on your door of course).

Charming Towel Hooks

Martha Stewart

Hardware for a vintage dresser

The Modern Cottage Company

A place to hang your hat, coat, leash

Apartment Therapy

Sweet Photo holder

Petite Michelle Louise

Curtain Tie-back

Urban Outfitters

And a great tutorial for how to convert those old doorknobs to hooks.

Infarrantly Creative

Hope you are feeling inspired! All this eye candy definitely makes me want to get busy – especially that gorgeous dresser!

Have a great weekend.

Pop of Green–side table

2012-04-18T06:12:00.007-04:00

Today’s furniture rehab begins with a bit of extraordinary kindness. A wonderfully generous local Lovely Etc. reader, Jenny, emailed me several weeks ago and offered me two dressers and a little table she no longer needed. For free.

I was so happy to see her email. Of course I love free furniture. But I was also blown away by her generosity to someone she had never met. Thank you so much Jenny.

Today I am finally ready to share the adorable little table she gave me. Here is the before.

It was actually really cute to begin with. But up close there were a few issues with the wood. Plus, I thought some color would really make it something special.

I decided a pop of green was just the thing. I went with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Antibes Green. (I’ve been a bit obsessed with this color – it is one of the main reasons I originally tried chalk paint).

Even though I really liked the table before, it definitely has more of a presence now. No more fading into the background.

I painted the base Antibes Green and then lightly distressed it before waxing with both clear and dark wax.

I really love the two-toned look so I sanded down the tabletop and stained it with Minwax dark walnut stain.

And, yes, the drop leaf sides do really work. With the sides up, it is almost like a console table.

If any of you are super-observant you may have noticed that I changed the hardware on this table. I actually really loved the little wooden knob that came on it…but I managed to lose it during the revamp. So I made do with this brass pull that I had. (Perhaps it is time to do a bit of cleaning and organizing in my workshop – aka my basement).

This table will be for sale at Olde Salem Mercantile by the end of the week.

Thanks for reading and for all of your encouragement and support. I have received several really sweet emails lately and they really make my day. As do all of your sweet comments.

Have a great week. I am linking this project up at Domestically Speaking, Primp, Beyond the Picket Fence, The 36th Avenue, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Simple Home Life, Miss Mustard Seed, Lolly Jane, Addicted to Decorating, The Rooster and The Hen, Funky Junk Interiors.

Yard Sale Like a Pro: What I Buy

2012-04-16T07:00:00.004-04:00

Last week I shared the first key to finding awesome stuff at yard sales – making a plan. On to the next step – know what you are looking for.

Shopping at yard sales isn’t exactly the same as running down to Target for laundry detergent. You never know what you are going to find so it might seem a little silly to make a list. But if you have been to many yard sales, you probably know how overwhelming it can be at times.

You are surrounded by mounds and mounds of old, rejected stuff. If you don’t know what you are looking for, it’s pretty easy to do one of two things. Either buy way too many things because they are cheap and there is a tiny chance you just might need them one day. Or leave empty-handed because you are having a hard time separating the awesome-junk-with-potential from the everyday run-of-the-mill junk.

That is why it helps to have an idea of what kind of things you are looking for. So you can look past all the excess and find the gems.

I know that everyone is different but to help you get started, here is a list of the things I look for at yard sales.

Furniture

Of course we would all love to find solid wood furniture with beautiful vintage lines and dove-tailed drawers in perfect condition. But I am cheap and you just aren’t going to find that for ten bucks. Plus I love to save neglected stuff. This is how a lot of the furniture I bring home starts out looking.

I’m clearly not holding out for perfection, but I also don’t want to end up with something beyond help. So these are the standards I go by when buying furniture -

Real wood furniture only – no laminate.
If there is veneer – it should be in pretty good shape or be barely hanging on so that it will be easy to remove
The furniture piece needs to have a nice shape. This is pretty subjective. My favorites are pieces with nice vintage curves and details. But I also like very simple clean lines that can handle a more interesting paint treatment.
I can usually deal with a little wobbling but I do make sure that all the drawers open and close smoothly.
And don’t forget to look for super steals that can be used for parts – maybe the legs from a wonky table or the drawers from an old cabinet.

Small Stuff

old frames and mirrors
old books

vintage sheet music
vintage suitcases and trunks

wire baskets
candleholders, lamps, lampshades, light fixtures
old windows, shutters, doors

old cabinet doors or other random wood pieces to make signs
old silver or silver plated pieces
little kid chairs
old ladders, crates, tool caddies

old hardware – door knobs, drawer pulls, hooks, pulleys etc.
vintage Christmas ornaments
old maps
vintage cameras, fans, typewriters, globes, clocks

other interesting vintage stuff
fabric
curtains to use for the fabric
letters and numbers made out of pretty much anything
tools
craft supplies

That’s what I look for but yard sales are great places to find all kinds of great stuff for cheap – toys, baby stuff, kids clothes, even plants. Whatever it is you may be looking for, just be sure to have some idea what it is beforehand.

What about you – what do you love to see at yard sales or thrift stores? Is there one special thing you really want to find this summer?

I'm linking up these tips at Coastal Charm, Serenity Now, and Home Stories A to Z.

Handpainted Bakery sign

2012-04-13T07:00:00.003-04:00

Lately I've had a real thing for painting signs. There is just something I really love about them – the vintage feel, the texture of the wood, the thousands of things they can say.

My latest creation is this classy bakery sign. Love the stormy gray color, fancy font, and distressed paint.

I used the same basic techniques as my vintage style I’ll Fly Away sign. Even so, I think the two signs have completely different feels. It just goes to show what a difference color and font can make.

I actually have the perfect spot for this sign above one of the windows in my kitchen. But because the rest of my kitchen is (still) such a mess of brown and beige, it really isn't ready to handle such a gorgeous sign. So this one is for sale at my shop. I will just have to make another for myself when I get my kitchen properly de-beiged.

What about you – are you a sign lover too? If you could have any sign what would it say?

I am linking up this sign at Funky Junk Interiors and Elizabeth & Co.

Yard Sale like a Pro: Have a plan

2012-04-09T06:39:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I am really happy to be back with the first official installment of How to Shop Yard Sales Like a Pro.

Lesson one – have a plan.

Yes, it is possible that one magical day you will simply be driving around town minding your own business when you stumble upon a treasure trove of amazing antiques and vintage pieces being sold for pennies.

But it isn’t very likely.

Like most things, to have consistently good “luck” with yard sales, you need to plan ahead.

Search for sales. Search out the places where yard sales are advertised in your area. Where I live, I always check the online classifieds for our local newspaper as well as Craigslist. Some other places you might check include www.estatesales.net, www.garagesalestracker.com, and other similar websites.

Narrow down your list. There will (hopefully) be a wide variety of ads to choose from so now it is time to weed out the dinky sales and concentrate on the most promising ones.

I always notice sales that are advertised as estate sales, multi-family sales, and church yard sales. They usually have more stuff which makes them more likely to have good stuff.

I also look for the sales that advertise things I am looking for like antiques, old stuff, lots of furniture, etc.

I’ve also found with experience that certain neighborhoods tend to have more of what I want than others. This is something that you should be able to figure out after a few weekends. It may be the wealthier neighborhoods but around here I find the best stuff at the neighborhoods full of older homes. (People with old houses tend to also like other old stuff).

Map out a plan. Make a list of all the sales you plan to stop at and figure out the best route so you aren’t back-tracking a lot.

Get up early – yes this is a must. Most sales start around 7 or 8 am. It is very important to get there early – if there is really cool stuff for sale you can bet it will be sold first. And if you are home sleeping in, you will probably never even see those awesome things – they will be long gone. Yard saleing is definitely an activity for the early bird.

Now I know some prefer to go at the end of the day for the absolute lowest prices. But I have found most of the good stuff is long gone by then and I have no trouble getting great prices first thing in the morning. Most people having a yard sale honestly just want their junk gone and will give you a deal.

Be flexible. This may seem completely contradictory – but be open to a change of plans. Even though I always start out with a list of yard sales I want to hit, I’ve been known to be a sign-chaser from time to time as well. Especially if I see a yard sale sign in one of those neighborhoods that usually comes through for me.

Planning can take you a long way but you just never know when the next great sale is right around the corner. There have definitely been days when my very best finds came from unexpected stops.

Go ahead – do a drive-by. And finally, the drive-by – is it okay or not? For anyone who is clueless - I am talking about the drive by to scope out whether or not a yard sale is worth stopping at.

I am all for the drive-by myself. If I come up to a yard sale that was advertised as huge and find that is nothing but a couple of tables of baby paraphenalia and 80s furniture, there is absolutely no reason for me to stop. So rather than waste the precious early morning minutes, I drive on to the next promising sale.

And that my friends is how I do it. Any tips you would add?

Next Monday– what I take with me and what I look for.

I am linking these tips at Coastal Charm and Serenity Now.

Happy searching.

Ode to the arrow

2012-04-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

In honor of my recent obsession with arrows in design.

Because The Hunger Games is bringing archery to a whole new level of respect.

And because this stuff is just so cool.

I bring you an ode to the arrow, etsy style.

Vintage Marquee Lights - Arr... VintageMarquee... $199.00	Love Print - Art Block Prin... pumpkinandbutt... $18.00	Blue and Sea Green Arrows NativeShop $45.00
you are here now print- larg... farouche $35.00	pillow cushion linen arrows ... spoolandsparro... $39.75	Lone Chevron Arrow - Hand Ca... creatiate $7.00
Double Sided/Arrow Chalkboar... YesMoreFunk $38.00	Arrow Sign Wooden Pointing t... SlippinSouther... $31.00	Gotcha Arrows and Heart 11x1... ProjectType $23.00
Arrow Ring - Sterling Silver... PhilanthropicP... $75.00	Set of 4 Arrow Paper Cut Not... AshleyPahl $12.00	Vintage Out Roadside Arrow S... RetroRoadsideP... $75.00
You Can Do Anything ART PRIN... BubbyAndBean $20.00	Original TO THE BEACH hand p... LibsPorchOrigi... $45.00	Hello 8x10 Print LittleLightPri... $15.00

Treasury tool supported by threequickquestions

Any other arrow lovers out there? What is your favorite item? I am really loving that vintage out roadside arrow sign. But then again I also love the real blue and green arrows - they would be a great alternative to flowers in a cool vase.

Antique folding chairs

2012-04-04T06:04:00.009-04:00

Hello all.

On Monday I mentioned that I am starting a new series called How to Shop Yard Sales Like a Pro. I am super excited about sharing my yard sale love and will be posting the next part of the series next Monday.

So it seemed only fitting to share a great yard sale redo today. I picked up these 2 antique folding chairs at a yard sale last summer.

Even though the finish was very rough, I still thought they were awesome. And they certainly beat the ugly metal folding chairs we use these days!
I transformed these chairs with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in old white. And then I figured, why not add some numbers for character. My husband Mitch asked what the numbers stood for. I had to break the news that they don’t stand for anything – they just look cool. And they make people like him ask silly questions.

I think they look perfect now. I can think of lots of great ways to use these chairs. You can tuck one away in the corner. Pull them up to a breakfast table. Use one at a desk. Or even use one as a small side table.
And of course you could store them away for when extra guests are around. Look how skinny they fold up – they are only about 3 inches thick!

Pretty and functional – I love it.
This was actually my first time using ASCP in old white though I have used pure white several times. It definitely has a more ivory, aged tone to it. Here is a side by side comparison to give you more of an idea of the difference. The two whites really do give a completely different feel.

So which white do you prefer – the more vintagey old white or the fresher pure white?

And what do you think about the numbers? Do they add character or are they just sort of random?

I am sharing this chair transformation at Knick of Time, Shades of Amber, Funky Junk Interiors, Crafty Scrappy Happy, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, Mod Vintage Life, Beyond the Picket Fence, Simple Home Life, Miss Mustard Seed, Tatertots and Jello, and Domestically Speaking.

Shop yard sales like a pro

2012-04-02T07:00:00.007-04:00

I am absolutely thrilled that yard sale season is here once again!

Now I realize there are probably plenty of you reading this who think it is ridiculous to be so excited about strolling around strangers’ lawns looking for treasures amongst their used junk. Somehow, auctions and thrift stores seem to be somewhat more dignified. But for me yard sales are the best. They are where I find the most unique stuff at the cheapest prices and I love them.

In honor of my love and devotion to yard sales, I have decided to launch a new series here at Lovely Etc.

To help kick off the series, I thought I would show some evidence of why it is I love yard sales so much. These are some of my favorite yard sale finds from last summer. And I’m even going to let you in on some of the unbelievable prices I paid to show you just how awesome yard sales can be.

Vintage Wardrobe Trunk $30

A bucket full of old glass doorknobs $10

Huge retro globe $16

Round kitchen table $5

7 folding chairs from an old choir loft $2 each

I am thinking about using these in our dining room but I’m just not sure how practical they would be.

I can’t wait to start searching out a whole new season of amazing super-cheap stuff.

Stay tuned for lots of great tips including how to find the best sales, what to look for, how to bargain, and how to see the potential in almost anything.

How do you feel about yard sales? Love them, hate them? Does the mere thought make you want to break out the hand sanitizer?

Sprucing up the Chalkboard Wall

2012-03-30T07:00:00.004-04:00

So I know I am not the only one who has seen the amazing chalk art of Dana Tamanachi floating around the Internet – and frequently pinned on Pinterest. I have been dying to try my hand at it on the small chalkboard wall in our kitchen.

I have also been thinking about the resolution I made in February.

Now that March is practically over, it was definitely time to get on that. And I knew exactly what verse I wanted to start with.

This is the amazing piece I used as my inspiration.

Clearly my version is nowhere near as amazing as the inspiration but being the amateur that I am, I feel pretty proud of it. This is definitely my most artistic use of the chalkboard wall so far. This little reminder lives directly beneath our ‘dry-erase’ calendar.

There is another small sliver of chalkboard above the back door that holds this little piece of wisdom.

Certainly less artistic, but I still love it. Especially the cracked egg – so perfect for the kitchen. (What can I say, I’m a total dork).

I am sharing this project at Serenity Now, Elizabeth & Co, and Addicted 2 Decorating.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2012-03-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Hello all! There are some awesome changes going on around here at Lovely Etc.

But before I get to that, I am guest posting over at My Champagne Taste today. You should head over and check it out. And while you are there, scope out her completely amazing silver leaf dresser.

On to the awesome changes. First up, my new header. This was my old header.

Cute, but clearly done by an amateur.

For all those reading this in a reader or over email, here is my new header designed by none other than my awesome graphic designer brother.

Completely awesome right? I absolutely adore the new logo he designed for me. He usually designs funny t-shirts (which my hubby is a huge fan of). His T-shirt business is called KentZoneStar and lots of his t-shirt designs can be found here.

And now for my second bit of awesome (though somewhat delayed) news. I recently took on a second booth at Olde Salem Mercantile.

It is actually more of a wall near my original booth (which is still alive and well). I am still figuring out exactly how I want it to look but it is off to a good start.

Any suggestions on how to style my wall? Perhaps how to add some dimension? Or maybe I should add a little pattern to the grasscloth wallpaper? What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and supporting this little blog. Every comment and reader gives me so much encouragement.

Amazing home tour–Hannah’s house

2012-03-26T07:00:00.005-04:00

I have a wonderful friend named Hannah – she is sweet, spunky, and Southern! She was one of my roommates in college and we have stayed close ever since despite living in different states.

Mitch and I got to spend a great weekend with Hannah and her husband Jack a couple weeks ago. While we were there, I just had to take some pictures of her gorgeous house to share with you all. Hannah’s house has great architecture from the 1920s and she highlights that architecture brilliantly.

My favorites are her four gorgeous mantles.

In the living room…

Music room…

Office…

And dining room. And check out the beautiful built in hutch.

This is the view from the front door. The house has a beautiful, wide entryway. And a gorgeous antique sofa.

And the stairs are absolutely gorgeous.

Aside from the amazing architecture, Hannah is a genius at setting up simple but beautiful vignettes. I love this silver table in her dining room. The wreath adds the perfect pop of color and the mix of candlesticks in the tray are the perfect touch.

I know – she is a genius. I love how she uses antique and new pieces together in a bright, classic way. She could totally be an interior designer.

Thanks for letting me share, Hannah! I am sharing this tour with the world at Cowgirl Up and Mod Vintage Life.

So what do you think? What is your favorite part of the tour? Do any of you have amazingly talented friends that you would be incredibly jealous of if you didn’t love them so much?

That’s the Ticket - Features and giveaway winner

2012-03-23T07:00:00.004-04:00

Thanks to everyone who shared a project at the first ever That’s the Ticket Blog Hop and to everyone who entered the giveaway. (Giveaway winner announced at bottom of post).

This was my first time hosting a link party – and let me just say it was a lot harder to choose which projects to feature than I thought it would be! There were just so many great projects linked up, but I did finally narrow it down to a few favorites.

I love this stunning vanity redo from Keeping up with the Joneses. She used Arles Chalk Paint and distressed it perfectly. Gorgeous.

I was also smitten with this refinished vintage school desk from Sarah at Renewed Upon a Dream. Just the right mix of of old and new with the addition of the cute little stripes. (I have got a major thing for stripes at the moment.)

And I couldn’t believe what a difference Hating Martha’s wall of fabric made. You have seriously got to see the before picture – this fabric wall makes a teeny-tiny little window look huge.

If you were featured, be sure to grab a button.

On to the giveaway winner…

After removing any miscellaneous comments, there were 42 entries. I used random.org to choose the winner.

The winner is……Audrey from Timeless Treasures! Congratulations Audrey! Be thinking about what you would like your sign to say!

Have an awesome weekend!

A More Manly Redo – Blue Striped Table

2012-03-21T07:00:00.016-04:00

I picked up a few cute little tables last year during yard sale season. I loved the shape but not the super-shiny black finish.

I already redid the first with some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) in antibes green. You can see the before of this table behind the green one in this picture.

I love the cute scalloped edge and the great bookshelf, so I really wanted to do something to make this table stand out.

I painted the table with Aubusson blue ASCP and then added the stripes and painted the feet with Graphite ASCP. The two colors work really well together.

I have a thing for off-center stripes these days and I am really loving how these continue around the two sections.

If I am completely honest, most of my furniture makeovers turn out pretty girly. But I think this one strikes the perfect balance with its feminine curves and masculine colors.

What about you – are most of your projects more girly or more manly? Have you done any pieces that strike a balance right down the middle?

And don't forget to link up to the That’s The Ticket Blog Hop and enter the giveaway for a custom hand-painted sign.

I am sharing this table at Southern Lovely, Primp, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Live Laugh Rowe, The 36th Avenue, Miss Mustard Seed, Simple Home Life, Addicted 2 Decorating, Funky Junk Interiors, Decorating Insanity, Knick of Time, Primitive and Proper, Shades of Amber.

A reminder, a sign, and a winner

2012-03-19T07:00:00.006-04:00

If you haven’t yet, don’t forget to enter the giveaway going on now for a vintage style sign that says whatever you want.

And while you are there be sure to link up your creative projects to the That’s the Ticket Blog Hop.

Let me tell you – I am on a roll with signs lately. I have another new sign to share today. This is another gem that was painted on an old cabinet door.

I love how the lettering turned out and it was really pretty simple. I painted the sign and then used my simple transfer method to transfer the letters. Then filled them in with a paint pen and distressed them slightly.

Love one another – always a good reminder, especially on those long, trying days.

And finally, it is time to announce the winner of the Ramsign address sign giveaway.

Thanks to everyone who entered – there were tons of great quotes shared. I used random.org to choose the winner and in this case the early bird really did catch the worm. The winner was the first commenter - Jen. Congrats Jen!

I will definitely be sharing some of the awesome quotes shared on Facebook. And if you didn’t get to enter, I would still love to read your favorite quote!

I am sharing this painted sign at Coastal Charm, A Diamond in the Stuff, Not Just a Housewife, Sweet Little Gals, Elizabeth & Co, Southern Lovely, Funky Junk Interiors.

That's the Ticket Blog Hop and Giveaway

2012-03-16T07:00:00.009-04:00

It is here! Time to link up your projects and show off your creativity!

To kick off the party, I’m having a sweet giveaway. (You do not have to link up to enter the giveaway.)

And it just gets better - each of the other blogs participating is offering an awesome vintage giveaway as well.

Giveaway

Here at Lovely Etc. I am giving away a custom vintage style sign. The sign will be in the same style as my I’ll Fly Away sign, but the winner will get to choose what it will say.

There are 5 ways to enter this giveaway. Do as many or as few as you want – just be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Follow or subscribe to Lovely Etc.
Link up a project in the That’s The Ticket Blog Hop (share your entry number in your comment)
Like Lovely Etc. on Facebook
Post the That’s the Ticket button on your blog sidebar
Share about this blog hop/giveaway on Facebook or twitter.

Blog Hop

That’s the Ticket is a Blog Hop where you can link up and show your creativity in any of the following five categories:

Furniture Makeovers

Vintage ‘Junk’ Creations

Sewing

Handmade Home Décor

Homemade Food

And the best part – the projects you link up will be seen on all four blogs!

Party Rules:

Please link to the permalink of the post you are linking up.
Please link back to this party in your post or on your sidebar either by using the button or with a text link so others can join in the party as well.
It is not required but I would love for you to become a follower of Lovely Etc.

You can link up your projects and enter the giveaway between March 16th and March 22nd. Giveaway winners will be announced March 23rd.

Can’t wait to see all the creativity!

And don’t forget to head over to to enter the other giveaways at Knick of Time, The Old Block House, and Rusty and Redone.

The bold and the beautiful: kids table and chairs

2012-03-14T07:00:00.016-04:00

Perhaps you remember my obsession with little kid chairs?

Recently, I had the pleasure of finishing a whole set of pint sized chairs and a table to boot.

This little set was my first ever custom order. They were created for the daughter of a super nice teacher at my school. She was trusting enough to let me do my own thing and I think they turned out pretty great.

Wow, seriously dusty. Not to mention worn down.

I knew I wanted to use my paisley stencil on this little guy. This is actually the same stencil I recently used to paint my floors. I think it’s amazing how different it looks with all the bright colors.

The chairs were just begging to be bright and bold. One of the best parts about painting furniture for kids is there is no need for subtlety.

Love the mix of styles and colors.

Smile.

Don’t forget today is the last day to enter the Ramsign address sign giveaway. And come back Friday for the very first That’s The Ticket linky party to share all of your furniture makeovers, junk transformations, sewing projects, home décor projects, and yummy recipes.
See you then!

I am sharing this project at Southern Lovely, Sweet Little Gals, Beyond the Picket Fence, Crafty Scrappy Happy, The 36th Avenue, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Simple Home Life, Miss Mustard Seed, Serenity Now, A Diamond in the Stuff, Not Just a Housewife, Primitive and Proper, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, Thrifty Decor Chick.

Sweet blue chalkboards

2012-03-12T07:00:00.011-04:00

Okay, first of all, how excited am I that spring is on the way! Flowers blooming, birds singing, happy blue skies. And best of all…yard sale season is right around the corner.

Last week I played around with our jigsaw for the first time. I used to be really intimidated by power tools – especially the ones that could possibly sever limbs. But no more! The jigsaw was actually really easy to use – and now I can do so many things!

These chalkboards have actually been floating around in my head since I first started this blog. I found and pinned this awesome chalkboard necklace which was on etsy at one time.

Source: flickr.com via Carrie on Pinterest

I loved it as a necklace, but it also gave me a great idea for a bigger chalkboard. Sadly, I wasn’t able to actually make one until I overcame my jigsaw fear. Which took place last week. Finally!

I drew the shapes I wanted onto some birch plywood and then cut them out. I sanded the edges to help smooth them.

I painted these using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP). This was my first time using it as chalkboard paint. I used Napoleonic Blue and Provence. I painted each chalkboard with three coats of paint, sanding lightly in between each coat. Once the final coat was dry, I ‘primed’ the entire thing by rubbing a piece of chalk over it and wiping it off. And there you have it – two sweet chalkboards.

I can’t wait to make more. And I definitely want to try some using homemade chalkboard paint. (Love ASCP but I can’t be using it all up on chalkboards – that stuff ain’t cheap.)

These lovelies are for sale at Olde Salem Mercantile where I now have two booths going. My latest booth is actually more of a wall than a booth – but it is a big wall so that definitely counts! Once I get it arranged a bit more to my liking, I will definitely share some pics here.

Don’t forget – this Friday is the first ever That’s The Ticket blog hop and giveaway. I can’t wait to see all of your awesome projects!

I am joining the Pinterest challenge at Young House Love and also sharing these chalkboards at Todays Creative Blog, A Little Inspiration, TipJunkie, A Diamond in the Stuff, Primp, Domestically Speaking, Sweet Little Gals, Crafty Scrappy Happy, The 36th Avenue, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Simple Home Life.

Giveaway: Ramsign Classic Enamel Signs

2012-03-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

**************This giveaway is now closed.*****************

It’s giveaway time!!! I have a great giveaway for you all today.

I love the classic look of these porcelain enamel signs from Ramsign.

One lucky reader will win a free house number sign with one to five digits in any of Ramsign’s five designs. You can find lots more great pics of their signs on Ramsign’s Facebook page.

I think these could be fabulous used inside your home as well as out. Instead of choosing your house number, you could get a sign with the your anniversary, your child’s birthday, or your lucky number.

So what do you have to do to enter?

Mandatory: Leave a comment on this post letting me know your favorite quote. (I am always looking for new quotes for painting on signs and writing on chalkboards).

Bonus: Like Lovely Etc. on Facebook and leave a comment on this post letting me know that you did.

That’s it. This giveaway is open worldwide. Giveaway ends March 14th.

Cottage style banker’s chair

2012-03-07T07:00:00.014-05:00

I don’t always know how to describe my style. Obviously, I have a love affair going on with vintage pieces. But since vintage basically means old, I can’t really say that is a style.

I tend to be drawn to beachy, rustic, industrial, glam, cottage, and traditional with the slightest dash of modern. A bit of a smorgasbord.

But as soon as I saw this banker’s chair at a yard sale last summer, I knew it wanted to be a simple cottage chair.

(Okay, so confession. I had no idea this was called a banker’s chair until I googled it. I usually call office chairs on wheels “rolly chairs”. But I realized that makes me sound like a 5 year old and thought I should sound a bit more professional on my blog. But then I felt a burning desire to confess the truth.)

This guy started out nice enough – he just had a huge case of the blahs. Not to mention the wood finish had weird black flecks all over it. Not a fan of that.

So I ended up turning this guy from a manly man chair to a pretty lady.

I painted this chair with three coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in pure white. (Yes, it took three coats. The pure white doesn’t seem to cover quite as well as some of the more saturated colors). Then I distressed it with my trusty sanding block. I absolutely love the way chalk paint distresses – it just looks so natural. After recovering the seat with linen, the transformation was complete.

And here she is – a real beauty. I can see her being right at home in a sweet home office. This piece is currently for sale at Olde Salem Mercantile.

Sharing this redo at Southern Lovely, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, Beyond the Picket Fence, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Simple Home Life, Miss Mustard Seed, Addicted to Decorating, Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Primitive and Proper.

Chalk Paint Ampersand Sign

2012-03-05T07:00:00.011-05:00

Wow, I worked on a ton of really great projects this weekend that I cannot wait to share. Today I wanted to show you a little sign I created. I think I’m in love.

I don’t know why, but I have a real thing for ampersands. I’ve been wanting to make an ampersand sign for awhile.

This little guy was created using an old cabinet door and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I lightly layered on chalk paint in aubusson blue and napoleonic blue followed by a quick coat of pure white around the edges. After adding the ampersand I lightly distressed the sign.

Just look at that gorgeous texture. I love to experiment with new colors and techniques on small projects before using them on furniture. This layering technique was definitely a winner – I can’t wait to use it more.

By the way, the winner of the $25 gift certificate to Sneakpeeq is Linda Thenhaus and the winner of the $10 gift certificate is Debbie Pedigo. Congratulations!

Wharing this sign at Today's Creative Blog, A Diamond in the Stuff, Not Just a Housewife, Knick of Time, Elizabeth & Co, Domestically Speaking, Primp, Southern Lovely, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, Beyond the Picket Fence, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Uncommon Designs, Simple Home Life, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors.