White

White hat = good guys, right?  White flag = I surrender!  White dress shirt on 5 year old boy = um, NO! 

"Dark walnut stain, then butter yellow paint, then black paint, then dark stain.  Can I be WHITE 

this time around?" she asked.  

 "Of course." I replied.

What, you don't talk to your furniture?  Then how do you know what it wants to become?  

See, it's NOT about me and I know it, mmmmmkay?

Now, when you partially disassemble and then reassemble a large and fairly detailed piece of furniture there is at least a one important thing you should know:

No matter how perfectly the exterior cabinet looks and that perfection is subsequently confirmed by various levels and measuring devices (is plumbness even a word?) please be aware that the drawers will NOT fit back in said "repaired" cabinet.  (carpentry 101?)

And, you'll have to find a disguise for your poor buffet.

Now, maybe this should have been obvious, but, as you may know, I am an optimist and was very sure that by repairing the cabinet, all would be well with the world.

(Also, I blame anyone I ever knew from the time I was 12 until I graduated from high school for 

not making me take a wood shop class.)

So, it was back to square (or not so square as it were) one.

We discussed my good intentions and the fact that I would not surrender.

And we both agreed we could happily live with a few imperfections.  No surrender necessary.

Linking to these fun parties:
Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive & Proper 
Monday's Party at Three Mango Seeds 
Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
What Have You Redone? at Redoux
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Restored It Wednesday at Restore Interiors

Channeling My Inner Bob Ross

 I'm currently taking a break from a project that is driving me bonkers!  

Maybe I should think of it as a "happy accident".  More on that later.

 Taking a break for me usually means grabbing a paint brush and getting busy.  

There's just something so therapeutic about painting.  

This realization makes me think of Bob Ross.

So this child-sized antique washstand ended up getting what I think are "happy, fluffy, little clouds" in the paint and in the mirror. 

As I painted and dry brushed and swirled, I could just hear his soothing voice.  "Maybe in our world there lives a happy little tree over there."  Can you hear him, too?

(I watched a lot of PBS as a kid)

"and that'll just be our little secret."

 
*all quotes from Bob Ross himself.

Partying with Bob here:
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed 
What Have You Redone? at Redoux
Stinky Linky at Hating Martha 
Sister Sunday Link Party at Sisters of the Wild West 
DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff
Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive & Proper
Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Dilemma of the Day

These beauties landed in my lap last week.  3 of them.

I love them.

They were once part of a huge, glorious chandelier in a vast, magnificent castle.

I made that up - I really have NO idea what they were, what they're for, or what I can turn them into.

Any suggestions?

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!

 I've been a lucky girl feeling a lot of blogland love lately and I wanted to share some of things that have arrived on my doorstep.

source

Gwen, at The Bold Abode, was showing off her gorgeous new blog design and celebrated with a giveaway from Three Little Monkeys Studio and I won!  Here's an awesome party pack that I'm considering.


 
Gretchen has a ton of really cute stuff in her Etsy shop - you'll have to check it out - and I just found out that she actually lives less than 20 miles from me!  Crazy, huh?

I also won a beautiful bracelet from Homage Style and Charming Darling!
It's so pretty I'm almost afraid to wear it!  (It'll just end up with paint on it!)

I also received 3 cans of Valspar spray-paint from DIY Show Off.

I love the new 'locking' nozzle on these cans and who can't use more spray-paint!?!?!

Then, my blue and ebony sideboard (read about it HERE) was featured by Clydia at Three Mango Seeds!  If you haven't been to visit her, you really should!

I also received The Versatile Blogger Award from Heather at Setting for Four!!  Heather is a friend who's always supportive of me when I need it most!  Thanks Heather!

Told ya I was lucky!  Thanks to all of you!!!

 

I Dig Your Chili {number 4} - Love and Hate

{ Happy Friday!!!  It has come to my attention that there was a "glitch" in my feed.  It's been resolved but some of you may have just been bombarded with about 12 posts at once.  I'll keep any eye on it - thanks for your patience! }

Don't you LOVE it when things aren't perfect?  I mean, I don't live in fantasy land and despite my best efforts, sometimes things just aren't PERFECT in this life.  And that's one of the many reasons why I LOVE Janel and her blog Hating Martha!

Janel's blog is full of amazing craftiness and humor and she even throws this great "Stinky Linky" party where you can link up your not-so-perfectness!  

And as if that wasn't enough, she's got recipes, too.  Like her "Grown-Up Shortcake" that I HAD to try.  My husband says I'm no good at desserts, but he gave this one 5 stars!!

Janel also scoured the Earth when I was in a spray paint conundrum and for that I say "Janel, I Dig Your Chili!"

<center><a href="http://mamawithadashofdiydrama.com/"><img src="http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k487/dramalori/nb_dd_paper20-7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" width="135"/></a></center>

So, if you haven't already - go check out her blog here.  Go!

Also, since I'm obviously not the only one who thinks she's marvelous, Hating Martha has been nominated as one of Babble's Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs!  How cool is that?  So, do me a favor and go HERE and vote for her and show the LOVE!

The Cape

Dear blog readin', inspiration providing, supportive and loving best friends o'mine......

I can't find my cape.

(source)

Please be patient.

Without my cape, it's harder to paint, project, craft, write, photograph, edit, parent, cook, clean, chauffeur, wife, wear makeup, get ready for a grand opening, get a tan on my legs, cheer for my team and do cartwheels.
(SO not in that order)

This situation is temporary as I'm sure the cape will be back soon.

And then I won't look so silly wearing those bracelets.

 (source)