after 21 years

 

21 years of sitting at the same kitchen table and chairs and I'm done! It is time for a new look!

I finally got my hands on the much talked about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!!! There are exactly two places in the state of Pennsylvania that sell this paint, luckily I'm within a 45 minute drive to the cutest little shop that sells it! And,  I am lucky to have a husband that doesn't mind a little road trip in the pouring rain to buy a quart of paint!

  

 

Of course if you decide to paint your kitchen table you will have to get new chairs.

  

 (actually, it was the chair or I should say the slipcover that started this whole make-over!)

I wonder what will come next? I think I hear that ugly vinyl floor whispering "please replace me, please replace me". I sure hope my husband is getting that same message!

And of course now the window treatments in the breakfast nook need updating. We currently have a broken cellular shade, it either must stay all the way down or you rig it up like we have with rubber bands...classy!!

I'd like to try the woven wood shades this time if I can ever decide on a sample that I like! Have I told you before that I've become really bad at making decisions! Way too many choices make my brain completely shut down. Could someone just please pick one for me!

  

I just had to test out the paint as soon as I got home, here's a little peek. Hope to get this finished before 

 2012!

 

 Does one little project have the snowball effect at your house too?

Friday Night in the Cul-De-Sac Craft Room

 

Ahhhhh, Friday night and there is no place I'd rather be than my favorite seat in the house .

Tonight's project ............ gift tags

Using one of my favorite Christmas stamp sets and shipping tags from Staples.

   I love these tags, I use them all the time.

 

Now that I'm looking at these tags on my computer screen, I think I'm going to go and ink the edges of the tag to give it a more finished look.

 

I stared at this project for awhile, that's about as far as I got. There is a knack for designing bracelets and I don't have it. I just love pretty beads.

Major task for today was addressing the Christmas cards, happy to say mission accomplished and they are going in the mail on Monday!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

I died and went to fabric heaven......

 This weekend my 14 year old had a design job! She upholstered her Pappy's headboard as his Christmas present.  She's crafty like that! Hours of  HGTV  watching will do that to you. Sadly, no photos of the finished product, but I hear the client was very, very happy!

Bright and early Saturday morning, we met Nanny at a fabric store that has been around for over 40 years. I remember going here as I kid but haven't stepped foot in this store in decades. WOW! 

I was blown away by the choices and the prices......fantastic! Oh how I wish I could sew! It is on my list of things to do, pillows and aprons that's what I want to make.

 

Roll after roll of beautiful patterns.

 

And buttons! I've never seen so many in my life.

 

 

So friends, how many of you sew? Any suggestions for a very basic, beginner sewing machine? Also looking for any books with great photos (I'm a visual learner) on teaching the basics of sewing. 

And if you are available to come to my house and teach........that would be even better!

my bags are packed ...part two

 

Yesterday I showed you the first floor of this spectacular home, you can read that post here .

With weak knees I climbed the beautiful staircase and was face to face with this interesting wallpaper. At first I didn't really read the sentences, I just saw big, bold words and thought "cool" but after closer inspection it looks like an advertisement for the home builder. Obviously that would have to come down.  But let's move along. 

As I said yesterday, I loved all the furnishings in this home. Fell in love with this chair and pillow in a cute little nursery they had staged. Wall color was perfect too!

 

Down the hall from the bedrooms was a fabulous room they called a "game room". I let out a little squeal as soon as I saw the red sofa and the turquoise lamp! LOVE!! This room was surrounded on three sides by windows, absolutely amazing natural light in this home. You might never have to turn a light on during the day but you'll probably go broke paying for all these window treatments!

 

 

So many possibilities in this room. It was massive. I'm thinking craft room/playroom when I move in! (remember I'm still dreaming)

 

My first glimpse of the master bedroom. Can't say enough about those windows!

 

Master bathroom.......lovely!

 

The angels are singing again, take a look at this shower! Oh my goodness......

I can barely shave my legs in my shower. Now this is a shower! And of course the subway tiles, my favorite!

 

I would prefer a little more counter space in the master bathroom but I would be honored to brush my teeth at this sink!

I could soak in this tub and admire more beautiful subway tiles.

 

What a gorgeous bed! I'll even keep the linens. I'm a big fan of toile!

 

I just may have to drag the family back to this model home next weekend. I think I need more pictures!

my bags are packed

 And I am moving into this model home!! This is a Charter Homes neighborhood called Veranda, doesn't it sound lovely! From the minute I set foot in the foyer, I fell in love! You should have heard the sounds I was making, the husband was slightly embarrassed, the son was mortified! Did you ever just walk in a house and feel at home? That's what this house did for me. I would have just packed my clothes and brought the family and we could have moved right in. Take a look around....

 

Of course the model home has all the upgrades to suck you right in and then totally make you depressed that you can never afford this home the way they have it staged. But I can dream....

 

 I have a thing for foyers, probably because I don't have one.

 

 The living room and sun room to the left of the foyer.

 

Looking back to the front door and foyer. To the right of the front door was a home office, where the real estate agent was helping a "real" customer. Unlike me who was wishing I was a real customer!

 

My first glimpse of the kitchen.

 

And the the angels began to sing as I got a real look at my dream kitchen! Honed, black granite counter tops and off-white cabinetry.........love, love, love!!!!

 

My favorite flooring, hand-scrapped, dark wood! This has my name written all over it!

 

A lovely laundry room, where it would be my pleasure to wash clothes every day!

 

Cute, little bench and storage in the back hallway.

 

 Massive island, perfect for entertaining and baking!

 

Wonderful wall of windows in the family room. The furnishings were just perfect in every room. Since I took way too many pictures, I'll save the upstairs for tomorrow. It will not disappoint. I think my heart skipped a beat when I got to the master bedroom!

I can't stop thinking about this house, call me crazy!

how things have changed

 

These days studying for a test involves "Face Timing" your best friend on your iPad so not only can you hear her voice but you can see her face and everyone in her family as they go about their business in the privacy of their own home. It really is an ingenious way to quiz each other for the test in social studies. But one must be very careful what they wear in the privacy of your own home when your child is "Face Timing" someone.

I'm just sayin' !!!

 

 

What will these crazy kids think of next?

I miss the days of kids using the house phone to call a friend. At least I only had to hear one side of a conversation then. Because not only can I hear both sides of the conversation these two girls are having, I can also hear all the background noise at the girlfriend's house. 

Come to think of it, I'm not even sure this girl could find and use the house phone. If it doesn't have a touch screen or voice command it doesn't get used .  Oh the good old days, makes me sound old doesn't it!

I must find a quieter spot to hide in this house! I think the craft room is calling me!

and the winner is...........

With the help of my trusty companion Tucker, we have picked not one BUT two lucky winners of the Torani syrup!

            WINNER # 1

             Kimberly said...Cinnamon Vanilla sounds good. Good Luck with your first giveaway.

November 4, 2011 2:32 PM  

WINNER #  2

Jemsmom said...

Ooooooo!!! The creme de menthe sounds good to me! I think it would be yummy in hot chocolate!

November 4, 2011 3:48 PM

Congratulations ladies! Thanks for participating in my first ever give-away!
Please email me your address so I can mail your prize!
Have a fantastic weekend everyone!