June 25, 2010

Fresh and Vintage...

Life has a way of changing your plans...

I know I had teased you all with a peek at some fabric on my last post and really had every intention of posting on it yesterday and it didn't happen...I am sorry!  

Hopefully with forgiveness you will be happy to see it today instead...

Let me just tell you a little about this fabric...this happens to be just a few in one of my favorite collections called Darla from Grand Revival Designs by Tanya Whelan.  When I say favorite I really mean "LOVE"...her designs and collections...I cannot get enough of them.  

I bought several yards of fabric a year ago with the thought of making handbags out of them...well, I soon started to realize I was going to have a hard time parting with any of the fabric I ordered.  Moving and remodeling our home gave me visions of them sprinkled throughout our house...they are now going to stay right here.  I know...I will have to order more to design some very cute bags for my boutique.  These fabrics just said, "Fresh, Vintage and Happy" to me, and that is what I love to surround myself in.  


Something new and exciting about her Darla collection...she now has a new line for the  Home!!  It is wonderful! You must visit Tanya and read her post all about it. 


Where did I use this beautiful fabric??...

Well...let me take you back a couple of re-dos before I share. 

A little over a year ago I bought these 2 chairs that I found on Craigslist for $20 back in NM. So here is where I started...

I know...not so pretty but lots of potential!


Then the first makeover...in red and plaid

and now...

Crisp white and distressed...

So fresh and pretty!

With a vintage look...

These make me so happy!! 


I am linking to Miss Mustard Seeds FFF!



Furniture Feature Fridays




Have a great weekend friends!!

Hugs to you all,

June 23, 2010

Bon Appétit...

I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel...faint as it might be, it is there.  We have been getting lots done here and I will be sharing many posts with you all soon.   

I hope you all had a great day celebrating the important fathers in your lives.  I am grateful for my own father, an uncle who has been like a father and of course my very special husband.  I couldn't ask for a better dad for our children and I am very grateful for him.

So...I have been working on a little area in our kitchen that is going to be a breakfast bar.  I miss having an area big enough that all our barstools can fit around and the kids can eat their breakfast or snack at.  Having a smaller kitchen has definitely left me needing to think outside the box and finding space where ever it might be.

 I did find it...on a wall as you enter our kitchen there was the perfect spot for a little breakfast bar.  Just as I did my open shelving, I could create a shelf big enough for 2 stool's to sit under.  More bead board went up and wrapped around the corners creating more of the cottage style I love.  I have a few more details to finish before I can share the reveal, but I did create something unique and whimsy to top it all off...an old french sign!

 I had some old wood panels that came with the dresser I just revealed.  I wasn't sure why this wood was in the drawers and put it aside.  As the husband and I were looking at this spot I said "I need a little something above the ???"...(keeping you all in suspense for just a little longer) he agreed.  We stared together for a few more minutes and then...the light bulb went off... 

 "I think I might have the perfect size wood in the garage and it's old...what about a sign?"  Mr. Wonderful said "Good idea" I went and brought the piece of wood in...held it above and it was the perfect length and size!  I then said "What should it say?"  I wanted something that was French...he then said in his best Julia Childs impersonation  "Bon Appétit!"  I laughed at his voice and accent...then said "Yes, I like it!"  

I left with a smile and plan to work on my sign. 

Here is my new/old sign that I now adore...




Here's where I started...
the old  piece of wood, added a coat of primer, some
 satin cream paint, a little mocha glaze and then sanded.

Come to find out our printer was out of ink...
So no stencil, I sketched and then cleaned up the letters
 with a ruler. (I enjoyed this, felt like I was back in art class.)
Then using a black permanent marker outlined all the letters...


Painted the letters with black paint...

Then using my mouse sander and 120 grit sandpaper distressed it...

Pulling off some of the paint made it look worn...


Then added some D rings to hang it, and now...


Love it!

I just wanted to thank all of you who left such sweet comments on my new look and change here.  As I said, still some tweaking and I will be happy with it.  I appreciate every single one of you who read and those who share their thoughts...I adore you all!!

A couple of questions for you.  Along with changes here, I have been thinking on a few more.  

First, my follower button.  I love to see all your faces here and know that I have great friends along on this journey. 

My question...

When you follow someone do you read them faithfully or just click follow and move on?   I have thought about taking this off my blog and being follower free. Would you rather   subscribe to my blog?

 I never started this blog with the intention of needing to be a big blog or advertising...just wanted to journal my life and share my creativity.  I want to keep it personal and let you all know I see you as my friends.  Sometimes us bloggers can get too caught up in numbers or even comments.  I decided a couple months back to just blog when I can and I try to visit as often with all of you where the time permits.  My family is my first priority and trying to find that balance can be hard at times. 

The other question...have you missed my music here?  I have read that some like it on blogs and others don't. I miss hearing my music...I am thinking of adding my player back and letting you decide if you want to turn it on or not.  I think it adds to my blogs personality.

So that is what has been on my mind...nothing life shattering.  Feel free to share your thoughts.

I will be back tomorrow with another update on a project....here is a peek...


Have a great day!!

Hugs,

June 9, 2010

Some New Looks...

Whew!

You are in the right place...

  It was definitely time for a new makeover here! Just like I am always changing the decor in my home, my blog needed a new look too.  

 I have been wanting to work on my new look for quite some time.  Finally with the end of school, I decide to plunge in to the unknown and get busy.  I know it has been very quite here, but behind the scenes...I have been hard at work!  

Many late nights and early mornings working away on what has been in my head and wanting to put it all together.  I am not a graphic designer in anyway or a computer scientist, unlike my husband but I decided with a lot of effort, trial and error maybe I could just figure this all out.   

I know I could have made my life much easier to have one of the many very talented blog designers out there do it for me, but when I have something set in my head I find it much easier to just do it myself then try to explain it...so, I did.  

I hope you will find the bigger layout much easier to read and enjoy seeing larger pictures.  I wanted to keep my background crisp and clean...my pictures now stand out and show the vibrant colors. Hopefully with your visits you will find it to be user friendly as well.  

I have used all of my own photos for my header and throughout my blog design.  Lot's of practice and patience in Paint.net.  


You will also see a new blog address.  It is now www.whimsybyvictoria.com. Blogger will be re-directing traffic from my old address, but please let me know if you had any problems getting here.  

The windows on my header are from the old window pane I shared with you all. The windows to me are a symbol of being able to  look  into my life, but also reflection of the moment.  

The photos behind the frame will change often and the branches will change with the seasons...just like life. 

 I am very happy with how it all has turned out and hope you will be by often to visit. There is still some tweaking that needs to be done, so don't mind the construction. I would love to hear your thoughts on it! 

Along with the new look here...I finally get to reveal my beautiful dresser! So excited about how it turned out and is now one of my favorite pieces in our home.  I can't even put into words how much I enjoy seeing it everyday and it just makes me smile.

I love vintage items.  I think it is the nostalgia of another time period that fascinates me. I like to imagine the story behind it.  Who were the people before me that had these items in their lives. Where did it come from and if it could talk...the stories it would tell.  To makeover something that has been put aside and not used..I feel so much joy to give it a new purpose.  

O.k. I could go on and on, but I won't. 
So...here she is in all her glory...

Had to of course share some
 of my favorite flowers with you...

Here's her before...

 And after!

I know there must have been a top frame over the mirror at one time. 
 I actually like the look without it.  The curves are so pretty!


I left some of the old paint on underneath 
to let the crackle come through. 

I love the dark wood on this!







The feet had wooden wheels on it, but I couldn't reuse them they 
were so brittle and rusted.  I will be adding some new ones.

The beautiful scroll work...






The original drawer pulls.  It was missing a couple
of pieces so I had to do the glass knobs on the top.

Found these vintage looking 
glass knobs at Hobby Lobby.

A few more flower pictures...

 Yay!  I can cross 2 more projects off my to do list.

I just want to thank you all for being patient with me through all these changes we have had going on here.


 Please just know if you haven't heard from me, I have just been feeling very overwhelmed with trying to get our life back in order. I   miss visiting with you all very much and really do think of you all often. I am hoping that Summer break will help me have a little more time to get things done here.  


Having your friendships and the thoughts you leave always brighten's my day...I am truly grateful for you all.   Thank you!!




Hugs,