Christmas Tree 2010

No words, just my pretty tree :)

 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!!!! 

My favorite time of the year!!!!  I LOVE Christmas.  I love decorating for Christmas.  I love everything about it.  The more the merrier... ornaments and decorations that is.  Glitter, sparkling things, scented pine cones, ribbon, feathers, I LOVE IT ALL!  This year, I changed my mantel up and hung the garland, instead of shoving it in the "hole" above the fireplace.  And I love it!  I loaded it with a few of my favorite things!  Now I just hope and pray that the command hooks do their job and keep it up, instead of shattering my hopes and dreams ornaments.  Here's a few pics!  Thanks for stopping by if you are coming over from Layla's Holiday Home Mantel Linky Party!  I'll post again by Dec 9th to show off my pride and joy Christmas Tree!

Dining Nook Before/After

A post of pictures... (Click on each picture to enlarge)

• Z built us a banquette including benches and a new table
• "New" dining room chairs
• New paint under chair rail (Slate by Restoration Hardware)
• New chair rail on each side of the fireplace
• New paint color above chair rail (Ash by Restoration Hardware)
• New light fixture in dining nook
• New floors throughout kitchen, dining, and living room in Jan!!!



Before with "old" table and chairs (For Sale if anyone is interested:)

Then the new storage seating with cushions. 

Then my beautiful new drum shade pendant light! 

 Then Z built our new table and rounded the corners.

*New* chairs.  (Old chairs that Mama got for us for FREE.  The people she got them from said they came from a Golden Colon Corral.) 

 New Dining Nook After! (Check out those chairs!)

Before-ish (I always forget to take a REAL Before- so lets call this, Mid-Way) 

 

 AFTER



So before the table and chairs sat in the middle, and got in the way... 

After- We love our cozy banquette! 



Happy Wedding Shower!

One of my girlfriends from high school is getting married in less than 3 weeks.  There was a bridal shower for her this past weekend.  I made her an established sign to show off her new last name and marriage!.  I went with neutrals and turquoise, since turquoise is Jodie's favorite color.  Now let the countdown begin for the wedding!  Can't wait!

Go Pirates!

When I was asked by a friend of mine about painting something to donate to the East Carolina Alumni Association's Scholarship Auction, I said ABSOLUTELY!  Its a great way to help out the community and a good way for me to get my name out there.  We decided that a childrens step stool would be a great auction item!  What Alumni doesn't have a little pirate or know a little pirate?!  I kept things basic so it would be great for a girl or a boy.  Check out what people attending the Pirates Bounty Scholarship Auction will be bidding on!  (Again, sorry for the not so great pics- camera was on the wrong setting!)

How it all comes together

Some people ask me how I decide what design goes on which letter.  I pretty much look at the bedding or pictures of the room and go from there.  I like to know the wall color because I don't like when the base color is the same or close to the same as the wall color- it just makes them blend right in, instead of making a statement.  Sometimes people want certain designs and make requests for certain patterns- but using the colors that compliment the bedding (ex- polka dots, stripes, checkerboard, diamonds).  Here's are a few examples of how letters match up to the bedding.

More from TLB

Picture Dump time!  Sorry some are blurry and some of the colors are off.  I'm typically taking these pics at 11:00-12:00 at night, and without sunlight (and patience) this is the best I can get.  You get the idea...

TLB

Over the past few months, I've taken on some orders from The Letter Boutique.  Carrie has a wonderful business that continues to be successful.  She has added more painters over the years; its almost hard to believe we have painted together for over 5 years!  Take a look at some of my recent names.