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Sunday, November 6, 2016

Kitchen Remodel

Ready for a kitchen remodel?  Ha ha, no one likes the process, but we all love it when it's done!
After





Before
            
See that arch over the remodeled window?  It looked so pretty in my head, but I could not convince my husband or the carpenter that it would look this pretty.   The carpenter thought that "it would look terrible"......  So.....I drew it out/cut it out/ on a life-size sheet of tissue paper and taped it up between the old cabinets.  Then my husband got the idea, and gave a few size/shape opinions.  I re-drew it and we taped it up again.  Then he actually liked the idea.  See the decorative appliques and corbels?  Since I had a life-size piece of paper taped up to the wall, I printed the decorative pieces from an online shop, architectural depot, and taped them on to the tissue paper and lived with them for a few days.  Next time the carpenter came, he could see my idea.  He still tried to convince me not to leave the open area behind the arch.  He wanted to close it in with wood.  But I wanted to hang a chandelier there.  Finally he shrugged his shoulders and said he'd build it the way I wanted it.  He actually took the life-size drawing on the tissue paper to his carpentry shop to help with cutting out the shape! 
I knew I wanted red curtains, but that no one would have what I had in mind.  So, I knew I would have to make them myself.  I found the red embroidered fabric and the glass bead trim at Fabric Factory in Dallas.  I made Roman blinds - I had made them for the kitchen about 15 years before in a green color, so I used the shape/size of the old curtains to make the new ones.
See the corbels and the decorative appliques on the island?  I asked the carpenter for size info, and then set to work finding the right size online.  Ordered them, and gave them to the carpenter to install.
The most agonizing decision was the tile backsplash!  So many choices - my head was spinning!  The tile guy suggested installing the granite window sill instead of keeping the wooden window sill.  I took his suggestion, and think it looks quite nice!
Oh those chandeliers!  Hubby did not want them!  He was convinced they would hang too low (9 foot ceilings) and not provide enough light.  So again, I made a basic chandelier shape in poster paper and hung two of them from the ceiling.  A 20 inch wide and a 15 inch wide.  Then played with how low to hang them.  I showed him that we could walk under them and not hit our heads!!  Really!!  He finally gave in.  I ordered the chandeliers online and hubby installed them and added the can lights since he was worried the chandeliers would not provide quite enough light.  (You can see here I have only put the crystals on one chandelier so far.)
Loving that gothic arch!! : )
I primed and painted the walls after taking down all of the wall paper. (We borrowed a steamer, which worked fairly well.)  Hubby put joint compound on all the spots where the wallpaper removal had ripped off part of the sheetrock.  Then he sanded and sanded and sanded... 
Here is a before photo.  I took this photo at my daughter's fashion show birthday party...you can see photos on that here.
Here's a photo of a Christmas party after the kitchen was finished.  You can see the rest of that party here.
  Hope you enjoyed this tour of my kitchen remodel.
Hugs, Catherine


Sharing with these fun linky parties:
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Simple and Sweet Fridays http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home at  The Charm of Home
The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 
Shabbylicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique
Talk of the Town (Tuesdays) at My Salvaged Treasures
Simply Neutral Tuesday at Apple Apricot
Show and Share at Coastal Charm 
Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot
Share your style party at The Essence of Home









Saturday, July 30, 2016

Embellished Pumpkins for Autumn


 Ready for some cooler weather?  Cool crisp mornings?  Sweaters?  Boots?  Autumn Decorations?  Yep...get ready!  Need some new decorations to replace the old orange, brown, & black???
 
How about some white pumpkins....with BLING!!!  Bling it on, I say!!


 Fall Wedding?  Baby Shower?  Bridal Shower?  Or maybe you'd like to decorate your home with elegant Fall decor?  Life is short, go for the BLING!!
 I've been making pumpkins all summer long....I use vintage silk beaded evening gowns to create them.  Then sometimes I add some extra BLING!!  I use vintage rhinestone jewelry to embellish them even more!  Because less isn't more -- only more is more!!!
 These pumpkins remind of the Burberry colors... tan/gold background with red, white & black check pattern....

 And, of course, everything is pretty in pink - even pumpkins!!
 Creamy, dreamy whites with pearls....
 Elegant silver swirls.....
What's not to love??

Some of these pumpkins are for sale in my Etsy Shop

Wishing you an elegant Autumn!
Hugs, Catherine


Sharing with these fun linky parties:
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Dishing it and Digging it at Rustic and Refined
Friday Frenzy at Close to Home
Simple and Sweet Fridays http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home at  The Charm of Home
The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 
Shabbylicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique
I'm Loving it at Tidy Mom
Linky Party Palooza at The 36th Avenue
Funtastic Friday at Olives & Okra
Inspiration Spotlight at Dear Creatives
Home Matters at Life With Lorelai
City of Links at City of Creative Dreams
Vintage Charm Party at My Thrift Store Addiction
That Friday Blog Hop at XOXO Rebecca
Talk of the Town (Tuesdays) at My Salvaged Treasures
Simply Neutral Tuesday at Apple Apricot
Show and Share at Coastal Charm 
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop at Ducks in a Row
Dream, Create, Inspire at Simple Nature Décor
Wednesday Showcase at I say Nomato
Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot
Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine's Corner
Your Inspired Design at McCall Manor
Home and Garden Thursday at A delighsome life
Live, Laugh, Linky Thursday at Live Laugh Rowe
What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode
Bouquet of Talent at Life on Lakeshore Drive
Saturday Show Off Party at Rose Garden Malevik

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Spring visit from the Ducks

Spring Time!!  Warmer weather and sweet sunshine....are we there yet?  Are we there yet?
 Spring is definitely near when the mallard ducks visit my back yard....
 This photo is from 3 years ago....they have come back every spring!  The male and female would visit every day...then just the female...Then one day -- DUCKLINGS!!!
 Oh my!  Oh my!  They couldn't get out of the pool!  Mama duck kept trying to get them to follow her, but they couldn't jump up high enough!  My son and I placed this board for them to climb on to the patio.
 It took them a while, but they finally got it!
I've been working on spring assemblages these past few weeks...


 I used an image from the graphics fairy.  Printed it on fabric using the freezer paper method.
 Added lots of laces, pearls, roses, vintage jewelry, found objects, and last - but not least - a little nest of eggs that I made using the beaded fabrics that I also use to make pretty autumn pumpkins
The ducklings only stay about a day or two.  Then mama duck takes them elsewhere.  We keep the wooden plank (now warped) just for the ducks...we just pull it out of the garage every spring for them!  Right now, mama duck is bringing two males with her to visit our pool every morning.  That's new from last year!
  Hopefully we'll have ducklings again this year.  I so love to watch them for the short time that they are here!  Thanks for visiting my little blog-- so happy you are here!

Hugs, Catherine
Sharing with these fun linky parties:
 Project Inspired at  Extraordinary Day
Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Table it at Rustic and Refined
Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Simple and Sweet Fridays http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 
 Talk of the Town at My Salvaged Treasures

Simply Neutral Tuesday at Apple Apricot
Let's Talk Vintage Party at Bella Rosa Antiques
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Cooking & Crafting with J & J at Julie's Lifestyle
Five Star Frou Frou at A tray of Bliss
Tuesdays at our Home at Our Home Away From Home
You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot
Vintage Charm Thursday at Thrifty Rebel Vintage
Share your style Thursday at Common Ground
Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
 Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound
Pin me Linky Party at Diana Rambles
What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode
Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events
Snickerdoodle Sunday at Across the Boulevard
 Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes 
Saturday Show Off Party at Rose Garden Malevik

Friday, February 26, 2016

Hippity Hoppity!

Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hopping down the bunny trail
Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way!

Childhood memory: There was a radio station with the call letters "WBAP" that my mom listened to sometimes...In our childlike minds (My siblings and I), we wondered what the letters stood for, and we came up with "White Bunnies Are Pretty." We'd pass by billboards advertising the radio station, and we'd all yell "White Bunnies Are Pretty!"....(I am one of 7 children).




 It's Super Glam Bunny!!   I began with a paper mache bunny... painted her white... then covered her entirely in luxurious silk chiffon beaded & pearled fabric that was from a vintage formal evening gown...several different gowns, actually. I've pieced them together strategically to make this sweet bunny extra gorgeous and glam! 


 But that just wasn't enough....so I've decorated her in glitzy vintage rhinestone jewels! On her head is a crown-like set of jewels to accent her pretty face. Here necklace is a vintage rhinestone bracelet, and I hung a chandelier crystal for her pendant. Down her back are rhinestone chevrons....then around her sides & back are more rhinestones and a delicate chain draping down and sewn on to her necklace.

 
Look at her swirly little cottontail! Then I also made a sweet little nest of eggs also covered in beaded fabric and set it a pretty little silver bowl.....  Here are a few more pretties that I made for Easter.



 Pinks and Blues and Yellows, OH MY!!





Aren't the sequins fabulous?!  So much fun creating these!  :)
Check back soon to see the decorated bottles I made in the same style, complete with an Easter egg stopper to go on top of the bottle.  Thanks for visiting my little blog-- so happy you are here!
Hugs, Catherine
Sharing with these fun parties:
Sharing with these fun linky parties:
 Project Inspired at  Extraordinary Day
Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Table it at Rustic and Refined
Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Simple and Sweet Fridays http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 
 Vintage Inspiration Party at My Salvaged Treasures

Simply Neutral Tuesday at Apple Apricot
Let's Talk Vintage Party at Bella Rosa Antiques
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Cooking & Crafting with J & J at Julie's Lifestyle
Five star frou frou at A tray of Bliss
Tuesdays at our Home at Our Home Away From Home
You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot
Share your style Thursday at Common Ground
Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
 Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound
Pin me Linky Party at Diana Rambles
What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode
Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events
Snickerdoodle Sunday at Across the Boulevard
 Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes 
Saturday Show Off Party at Rose Garden Malevik