Pretty Petals

One blue pail can make a girl very happy..

 My Mom surprised me last week with this chippy rusty old pail in the best shade of blue! She said she found it and asked the lady how much for it... and the lady said, "oh you probably won't want that because the bottom has a hole in it".... now you ladies know that is no reason to pass up the rusty pail with a hole in the bottom right? So for $4 my Mom made away with this perfect blue pail.. ;) She was so nice to get it for me! It really is making me very happy just to look at it... lol!!

 

I am not sure where I am going to put it, but for now it is here on my cupboard.  Won't it look cute at Christmas with a little tree inside maybe?

 

Yes I am starting to think about Christmas decorating... crazy I know... but it will be here before we know it.

 

So the blue pail is making me happy for sure.... The rest of my house is a MESS... It is quite possible that this cupboard might be the only clean thing in my house??  I really need to go on a cleaning spree this week and don't stop until I get it all done. Why is it that I can clean my kitchen and the next day it is a disaster again?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talk to you soon! xo Heather

 

Revamp It

Hello there! My dear friend Natasha is having a little party called "revamp it". The idea is to fix up something and make it a little better! My project here is the french labeled jar, and is VERY simple...  I am not sure it even qualifies for a real revamp it but it makes me happy to do little things like this. ;))

 

 

I love this book and have had it on my shelf for several years.  I love everything about French General and this book is just one of those books that is nice to take out once in awhile to be inspired.

 

 

 In the back of the book are some beautiful old labels that you can scan and use for things... love these! I have used them often over the years.

 

 

  I scanned the image and then printed it out... rubbed a little bit of ink on it to age it a little... and then glued it to a pickle jar from my fridge that was empty. SO easy, but you know... if you were having a party or something wouldn't these be so sweet as centerpieces for next to NO cost? I love those no cost projects...

 

When I was at Anthropologie last they had the most beautiful french bottles and buckets with lovely french labels on them... just loved those and they have inspired me to want to label everything!

I only wish I had put some actual flowers in to show you... but my son is not feeling well today... and I threw out my back... so the flowers will have to wait until another day...

 

 but I do really love this idea of revamping jars from the fridge! You should try too!

Thank you Natasha for hosting this fun revamp it project to get us in the creative spirit. You can check out Natasha's beautiful post here as well as the other ladies playing along... there is still time to join if you have a project you would like to share. Just link up on her blog!

 

xoxo Heather

 

 

LOVED this Post ~ Blog Feature ~ "the kitchen update" from Frugal Farmhouse Design

Photo by Lori ~ Frugal Farmhouse Design

 

Hello! Today I am starting a new feature here on my blog called "LOVED this post". Basically every time I do this feature, I will link to one of my favorite posts out there in blogland that has inspired me a whole bunch! ( of course, I have gotten permission from the blog that I am sharing to share their photos with you!)

I have a folder on my computer where I bookmark the links to lots of my favorite posts from my favorite blog reads... and I resort back to them often for inspiration.  I figure, we all have archives of beautiful blog posts that tend to just get lost over time ... so I wanted spread the blogging love and relive the beauty!! This is all just for fun, no strings attached or anything like that... I think it will be fun! Maybe some of you might find a new blog you didn't know of along the way? Or maybe you will remember the exact post I am talking about ~ but it is so pretty that you can look at it over and over again!

 So, for the first feature, it is a post from Lori of Frugal Farmhouse Design titled "the kitchen update".  Lori is a designer from Long Island New York that I love to follow because her designs are very budget friendly (hence her name!)... and she owns a gorgeous shop called White Flower Farmhouse.  Lori is a total rock star and I am sure many of you probably know of her blog... and if not you should definatly check it out!

In this post, she redesigned the totally outdated 1950's beach cottage kitchen below  on a budget... and I DO mean a budget... she worked magic with only $200 as her limit!!

This is the the BEFORE photo!

 

All Photos in this post by Lori ~ Frugal Farmhouse Design

 

 

This is the AFTER!!

I cannot even tell you how many times I have looked at this blog post! Mainly because I am transforming my own kitchen basically on NO BUDGET so this post inspired me SO SO much. I live in a house that was built in the 1970's... the 1970s is probably the WORST design era I can think of! This transformation is amazing to me what it started at to what it became. I am completely inspired by Lori's magic! She painted the Cabinets... the PINK countertop... the dishwasher panel, the stove hood... the walls... basically paint was her BEST FRIEND in this redesign!

Another before..

 

 

And AFTER!

 

 

 

Before...

 

 

After!!!

The blue hutch was found in the basement in a dark wood color... she painted it for a pop of color and filled it with thrift shop dishes for under $20!

 

 

 

The stove hood looks SO nice now that the colors are  all cohesive... this post is total proof that a can of paint can work miracles!

She hung this gorgeous industrial light which I love!

 

 

 

a few cute accessories...

 She replaced all of the hardware for 30.00 by buying bulk packs of basic hardware from Home Depot... I love them! I think they are great with the style of this little vintage kitchen.

 

and a mirror above the sink to reflect the light...

 

 SO fresh and clean... and guess what, she did it ALL for $150.00!!

The reason I am so inspired by this post is because it takes painting to a whole notha level! I love that she was not afraid to paint the countertops and dishwasher panel. I am hoping to do something similar in my 1970's ugly kitchen that is set up in a very similar style as this one.

Thank you Lori for letting me feature this gorgeous post! SO inspiring and fun to shine light on this beautiful post again!

You can read all about how Lori did this transformation on her original post about this kitchen... she tells you what type of primer she used and all the paint colors... etc.

I hope you loved this pretty post as much as I did!! See ya soon! xoxo Heather

 

 

 

Natalina Cavalieri

Lina Cavalieri was a born on Christmas day 1874 in Italy. Her birth name was Natalina Cavalieri. . Can I just tell you how much I LOVE the name Natalina?? I have done a little bit of research on her and she lived quite a fascinating life. Her parents died when she was 15 years old and she became ward of the state and went to an orphanage. She ran away from the orphange with a theatre group and went to Paris. It was then that she began her career as a very well loved opera singer. She traveled to Portugal and then eventually to New York, and then back to Italy where she died in 1944. She was married 4 times! Back in the 1800's & early 1900's that must have been quite the scandal!

She is very very beautiful and was known at the time as the most beautiful woman in the world... but the reason I am so fascinated by her photographs is her AMAZING taste in jewelry!! She wears the most gorgeous pieces in so many of her photos and they almost remind me of modern day jewelry pieces that are fashionable right now.

Here are a few of the photographs I have collected... pay close attention to the beautiful jewelry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am going to use some of these photos as a bit of inspiration in my own jewelry... will see how it goes.

 

 

I loved the above photo so much that I made myself a business card with it. If you have bought jewelry from me recently then you received one in your package. I just love this image and the gorgeous necklaces she is wearing!

Hope you enjoyed your history lesson for today! ;)

xo Heather

 

A Few More..

Thank you guys for your comments on my jewelry in my last post... ;) I made a few more pieces for my shop today. I am trying to work on new pieces this week a little every day.  Tomorrow I may need the day off from jewelry making because I am watching my niece and nephew who are 10 months and 2! I know you ladies that have little ones are pro's at juggling these little munchkins... but I am feeling a little nervous because the 2 year old streaks around like lightening! lol!! I am thinking the baby is going to be the easy one. This should be interesting... I am a little rusty on the baby/toddler thing. anyhoo... back to the jewelry.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

It is kindof like a little jewelry factory over here at my house this week.

xo Heather

Jewelry Restyled

I found this gorgeous vintage cameo this past weekend and was excited to make a necklace with it. I love that sweet little angel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also made this braclet, I love the pink rhinestones!

 

 

 

 

They are both in my etsy...

Wishing you all a wonderful day! xoxo Heather

 

My Son

 

This is my son Braden. He recently turned the big 16! I can't believe it has been 16 years since this beautiful boy was born. You know when your kids are little and people say to you "enjoy this time because it goes by in a second"... oh how true!

 

 

I am so happy and proud to see him growing,

but a little part of me wishes he would just slow down a little...

 

 

Happy 16 my sweet boy... I love you with all of my heart. ♥

 

 

Remembering September 11, 2001

 

It was the beginning of the school day for my oldest son and I was at his school working for the school store that is held once a month for the children to buy little things before classes start.  I was 7 months pregnant with my youngest son. I went home after all the kids were in classes and my husband was watching the news and told me of the plane going into the 1st World Trade Center tower. I sat and watched the news coverage thinking it was a horrible accident as did everyone else at the point.

 

As I watched in horror, the second plane crashed into the second World Trade Center on the screen as the newscasters were talking. Not long after, news of the Pentagon being hit covered the news. Soon after the Pentagon was hit, the south tower completley collapsed. I don't think I moved one inch from the couch as I watched this all on the news, my eyes were glued to the screen, tears streaming down my cheeks... it was truly horrifying.

 

There was news of a 4th plane that went down not far from where I live in Pennsylvania. When I heard about the plane in Pennsylvania going down, panic really started to set in with me as my son was at school.. my husband was a work. I flew out of the house and drove as fast as I could to the school to pick up my son. There were parents there picking up their children too... it was sort of a controlled panic as I remember it. It was a horrible, sad, terrifying and the worst crime I have ever witnessed in my life.

 

May we never forget the people that died that day. The Moms and Dads that were going to work for their families, the wives and husbands, the sons and daughters, firefighters and police officers going in when others were trying to get out, the innocent little children, the day that so many lost their lives to one of the cruelest acts of hate in our history.

 

 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

 

Dollar Store Glasses

 

 

Thank you so so much for your lovely comments on my last post. I was so happy to read your comments, they made me smile and I am so glad you girls get it. ;))

You may remember these Goblets from the table setting from the park... (the two in the back of the tray) I wanted to tell you that they are from the dollar tree! I think they look so vintage. I know that not all dollar tree's have the same things, but I am telling you I have been finding some of the cutest glasses there lately!

 They would be pretty to use as candle holders lined up down the table too... or... what else? i dont know but I really just love them.

 

 

 I love this old peanut butter jar... I made this little centerpiece by just breaking apart a hydrangea flower and scattering the petals around the bottom of the tray.

 So I am loving my dollar store goblets... this is the second set I have bought over the last few months. I just love em and for 8 dollars for a set of 8, I am over the moon about that!!

 

Well, happy weekend everyone!

xoHeather

 

 

Photo Shoot with a Picnic Table

 Hi there friends.. how are you?

Today I did a little photo shoot in the park with a picnic table! lol! I really needed to clean my house, or go grocery shopping, or fill out the thousands of forms my kids need for school ...

but I really really needed a few moments of quiet.

My camera was calling to me, it relaxes me, and I love to find new things to take pictures of. So this morning I headed out with my coffee, camera, and some things to set a lovely table for no reason really... just to have a little fun. People that were on their morning walks kept looking at me funny... proabably thinking I am weird for taking pictures of a table, but you all get it, I know. ;) Fall is starting to set in. Some of the leaves are beginning to fall. It was so relaxing... and quiet... and beautiful there in the park today.

I need to do this more often..

Hope you enjoy the photos...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry for the music on the sidebar but... oh how i love that song! It is the exact mood I was in today and could not be more perfect for this post.

Have a wonderful day, xoxo Heather