Aubrie was home on spring break last week.  My beautiful independent girl that I miss and love so much.  I am so happy she has settled into college nicely; and is thriving.  Because I am missing her, the boys have decided she is my favorite.  Not true, just my only first born baby, my only daughter and the only one who doesn't live here right now. The week with her went so slowly.  And I loved that.  I was able to spend lots of time with her, and she was a doll to not complain.  She even let me take a few quick photos in the backyard.  I finally broke down and up graded my picmonkey editing site.  For a photographer like me who rarely seems to have the camera perfectly set, I am able to correct lots of mistakes and even enhance them.  I got so many gorgeous photos from just a ten minute shoot!

 The Very Snowy Days

The Wheaton Dresser....farmhouse chic, rustic and elegant.  I picked this up from an older couple that is moving.  The entire piece inside and out had been painted, very thickly, in a warm wheat beige and given "new" royal blue ceramic knobs.  I thinking this unfortunate transformation happened about 30 years ago, at least.  The dresser is solid, but very simple; no fancy trim, etc.,  but I love this style, with the delicate legs and great wide drawers.  I decided to heavily distress it and was able to reveal a lot of spots of gray primer, and warm wood.  It was looking better.  I painted the drawer fronts a medium gray, along with the feet, and then decided to distress those as well to blend it all together.  I still was not entirely happy; it was just not quite there yet.  So, I decided to follow my heart and damask the top and drawer fronts. I love this technique! I used a metallic silver and an old damask curtain panel.  This bureau actually shimmers in the sunlight now.  The front is very subtle tone on tone, and the top where I sprayed the metallic over the distressed wheat color is amazing.  I coated the entire piece in wipe on poly, added new knobs: vintage on top, and brand new on the bottom drawers.  Its complete!  It's equal parts rustic and elegant, and definitely one of a kind. :)
Linking with   http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/   and

http://missmustardseed.com/category/furniture-feature-friday/  for Furniture Friday

For the Birds

 I like to look up phrases that people say, that I find myself repeating, things I have heard my parent's say, that really sound silly.  Last night as I was making supper I said "Holy Toledo!", and then wondered aloud why? What could that possibly mean?  Am I even saying it right? lol  "Mi mi always said that", Donovan told me.   Recently I've googled  Three sheets to the wind,  Redneck, and another phrase I was worried was racist.  I'm adding For the birds, and Holy Toledo to my list today, before I pass these on to my kids. 

My Suburban Re-styling is going so well.  These are just a few pieces we have finished from through out this year.  I finally sold the black and gray dresser.  :).

 This transformation of Before to After, I think, is one of the best. I like to think that if Anthropologie and Restoration Hardware had a love child, it would be this dresser.   :)  I painted the base a medium gray, the drawers black and then used a rubber stencil/placemat that I purchased for exactly this.  I sprayed the white on and then super distressed the whole piece.  I changed out the top two knobs with new pewter ones, and painted the original chunky wooden ones on the rest.  A really cool young couple purchased it for their new apartment.


http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/.....linking with Abbie  :)

New York City....and all that jazz!!

Scenes of Summer Past