What I love today

I love this little pot that I found in mysweetsavannah's etsy shop. It is the perfect look with the black on cream. Just think of all the words that you could spell. You could spell out "HERBS" and put them in a sunny kitchen window. I think I will buy "NEST." And, they are only $6 each... very reasonable. Here's the link if you have to have them: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25178324

I also must have these tuxedo napkins from Shoestring Home. They remind me of these great shams I once had that were samples from a bedding designer. They are long gone after they were ripped beyond repair by my beloved doggie. They were a really soft white linen with the same small pleat. I may get Mr. Hughes to make me some vintage spoon napkin rings for them. You can find these at www.shoestringhome.com
Well, I am off to hopefully complete some projects.

Mini project

Aren't peonies beautiful? They are my 2nd favorite flower. I finally had one come up this year... not these. I bought these from Whole Foods. And I decided that they looked great with my mercury glass.

I have been extremely busy... moving Baby Hughes away from everything he isn't supposed to touch: the fireplace, shoes, DVD player, you name it, he wants it. He is cruising now and pulling up on everything. And, he is sleeping much, much less. All of this added together is the reason why I haven't completed any projects. I have thought of more things to do though. I just need to stay home the entire weekend, that way I won't get anymore ideas. I was in Michael's last weekend and I thought of this idea. Mr. Hughes has always disliked the sidelights by the front door. During the holidays, they are covered in paper snowflakes. But, during the rest of the year, he thinks that they don't offer much privacy. I like the light they let in, so I really didn't want to cover them with fabric. One night, on the verge of sleep, I decided I would order a decal with our address number down each side. The next morning, I told him and I think his exact words were, "Okay, but I'm not really proud of our address." So I took that as a "no." Then while in the scrapbook section, I found this really neat paper that was a cut out like a stencil. I then decided to use frosted spray paint to stencil the windows. Mr. Hughes actually completed the project one day while I was at work. We are both pleased with the results.


Over the next couple of weeks, we will be constructing a deck. And by "we" I mean not me. I will be on Baby Hughes duty. So I hope to get a few mini projects completed.

Treasures

The kitchen cabinets are almost completely finished. I just need to sand down a drip and paint the ceiling where the painters tape ripped off the paint down to the drywall. I hate painters tape. I don't think the pros even use it, so I am not sure why I continue to bother. I am planning on putting up corbels under the cabinets. I also have to put moulding on the back side of the glass cabinets. The glass wasn't easy to remove, so you can see the old cabinet color when you open them. So I am going to call this project 85% finished. I really like the look so far though. It is much brighter.

We have been out the past couple of weekends treasure hunting. Last weekend we went to the Flea Market at the State Fairgrounds. We figured it would be the only time we could go before it got too hot to bring Baby Hughes. He seemed to have a good time. We picked up quite a few goodies over the past 2 weekends. Some will get minor facelifts. I am planning on painting numbers on the white stools. We are going to put them outside once we get our deck finished, but I also think they could have a home under the console in the kitchen. I also really want to paint on the brown wicker laundry basket. Numbers or words, I haven't decided. I guess if it doesn't come out the way I want it then I will paint it all black. We will also paint the breadbox that we scored for $7. And, of course I couldn't pass up the ironstone at the Flea Market.
Here are a few photos of our finds and I am off to complete a few of my million projects.

Ahh Spring!

Well, it hasn't felt that way for the past few days, but it is still here. This past weekend, Mr. Hughes and I took baby Hughes to the Bloomin' Garden Show at the Ag Expo just outside Franklin. I have been going to this show for the past few years now for really one purpose: to buy and ultimately kill two small gardenias. I love everything about gardenias, their scent, the thick white petals, the glossy green leaves. But, they are a beast to keep alive. Mr. Hughes and I joke that we have chalk outlines around where each of them has died. But, I love them and a few weeks out of the year is worth the money that I waste on them. Last year, after trying to get them to bloom again, I gave up and put them outside, daring them to die. Well, apparently that is where they wanted to be. They bloomed again and then I let them die in the fall.

After the garden show, we went to a few of our favorite places in Franklin. We stopped by Scarlett Scales Antiques and found a great crusty planter that will be perfect on top of our future table under our future pergola on our future deck. Mr. Hughes assures me that it will be too heavy to put on the table, but I really want it there. We went to buy a few plants from Home Depot and bought some moss to fill it. I think it looks great!

My plan for the next two weekends is to paint our cabinets: uppers- China White and lowers- Revere Pewter. I'll post before and afters. I really want to get all this indoor stuff completed soon. I like to be outside just like those ridiculous gardenias!

One Finished Project!

Well, the living room is finally finished. Of course, it took much longer than we had planned. I laugh at the fact that we thought it would be finished in a weekend. It was so hard not having a living room for a week. I think that baby Hughes was really missing the large space to move around. We went ahead and completed the trim around the top. I decided that I really didn't want to move everything out of the living room again to do it. It turned out great. It isn't actually crown, it is two different types of moulding. I painted the space in between them the same color as the trim. Mr. Hughes seemed very happy that I didn't make him cope crown moulding around the existing fireplace moulding. Here is the completed living room (that is until I decide to change something!)

Here is a detail shot of the completed fireplace with the slate tile that we honed and waxed.... much better than the ceramic tile!

During all of this, our fence is being built.. Luckily, that doesn't involve labor from us. I am already planning our next projects; I have to take advantage of my 3 day weekends coming up. Next on the list.... painting the kitchen cabinets!