Not Your Granny's Doilies

Hope you all are having a wonderful long weekend!  We have had a great one... we went to ride Thomas the Tank Engine on Saturday.... so much fun.  The weather has been so pretty... yesterday, we took out our vintage quilt that I found for $15 and looks like it has h's all over it and put it to use.. we had a little picnic under a willow tree... it was so nice.  We had the whole park practically to ourselves.

And, I have got some stuff done.  Checked off.  Finito!

Mr. Hughes took the photos of the powder room this morning, and it was quite hard to take photos of this room since it is so small, so I can't give you a great overall look, but I am quite pleased *smiles*

So, here is the powder room Before

And, here is the after:

Here is a snippet of our little jewelbox of a powder room.  I painted the walls Pale Grey by Ralph Lauren (it was actually left over from the laundry room, I loved the color and saved money by using it!)

I have been wanting to wallpaper in here for awhile, but I may be a commitaphobic.  But, I still wanted something that gave me the graphic look of wallpaper.  So, I went with doilies.  They are pretty, inexpensive and have great patterns.

I originally planned on having white doilies... I bleached a whole bunch... well, some of them would not bleach... so, I had some dye that I decided to use.  I had never dyed anything before except for some tie dye shirts.  So, I gave it a whirl... now I want to dye everything... my sweet Grandma used to dye her own towels and curtains.

After I dyed them, I starched and ironed them.  Then, I just stretched them out and nailed them up with some paintable nails.

While out searching for doilies, I found this huge one.  Like almost 3 feet around.  I planned on putting it on the wall and I just couldn't get it to look right.  Then I realized what my bathroom was lacking... a rug.  Now, if I had some extra cash around, I would get the one I featured here.

But I don't, so I thought I would take my shot at making my own with a $2.50 giant doily and some felt.

I sprayed a piece of felt with some permanent spray adhesive.  Then, I placed the doily on it, stretching it out so that it was even. I let it dry then trimmed the edges with a pair of sharp, but older scissors (that stuff will gum up your scissors fast!)

I love the way it looks and it was pretty cheap.  I still need to add a rug mat to prevent slippage.

I repainted the little table that was already in here a pretty blue and changed out some of the accessories

I wanted some black in here because I had some artwork in mind that would look perfect in black frames

(I got that little ironstone soap dish from Tara)

Mr. Hughes designed these butterflies on some vintage sheet music that he scanned in and I painted the previously white frames black (we totally copycatted some on etsy...so if you want to buy some, go here!)

And, when we were out a week ago, I found another large frame at an antique store that was just like the other 2... so I bought it, of course.

We hung this one above a little vintage iron towel rack that I have had for awhile.

I went ahead and hung my very favorite birdcage ever... I will miss it on my dresser, but I love it here too.

I had originally planned on putting this mirror in the booth, but I decided it was the perfect size for above  the little shelf. It was originally dark wood, so I painted and distressed it. The shelf is a very old pickett cut down (from Three French Hens) and set on some vintage brackets (from White Flower Farmhouse.)

I added my set of 3 ironstone butter pats with tea lights (got the butter pats awhile ago from Chester and Donkey.)

I am so glad that I decided not to paint the brackets... when I was thinking the doilies would be white, I was going to paint these.  But, they look much better authentic.

I got this old Helene Curtis shampoo bottle from the flea market awhile ago for like $3 and I love the little lady silhouette.

Okay girls, I have to tell you... I love my bathroom.  I may break my arm patting my myself on the back. I keep going in there... but, I think the real reason is this soap that I featured here... I am in love!

It is pretty (and looks great piled in ironstone) and my whole bathroom smells so good.  I haven't used it yet, but I will, now that I know I can get more!

I got it and some owl soap from Satin and Birch. 

So, CHECK!  It is finished!  On to other projects *wink* I seriously started 4 small furniture projects for the booth today and also took some photos of new items for my etsy shop that will be listed later this week.  I have had a burst of energy... I also organized all our DVDs and CDs and went through and got rid of a trunkload of toys for Goodwill.  Long naps are a Mommy's friend!

Be back later this week to show you what has taken Tara's place for the time until Kate is ready...

Oh, and I am linking up to all the others that made their lives and homes lovely this weekend at Blessed Little Nest's Life Made Lovely Mondays!

Bye for Now!

Friday Etsy Favorites *Fallish*

Happy Friday to all!  Can you believe it is September?  I love September... it is when I met Mr. Hughes and I always have warm, fuzzy feelings about it and the butterflies (not that I don't get those anymore, because I do... especially when he wears a white button down and some faded jeans.... *wink*) It is still pretty warm here, but it is defnitely starting to feel fallish.  So, that is what I decided to call my hodge podge of a collection today *Fallish*

I adore these moccasins!  aren't they incredible?

Found at Darling Tonia

And, if I am going to have cute shoes... so is my kid....

Well, there is no way that I could shove baby hughes' feet in these.... but aren't they precious?

Found at Catherine Audoyer

Perfect if you want that Back to School feel at *gulp* 32 (almost)

Found at Natty Bratty

Love this warmish pillow

Found at Lodge

And, if you are into writing sonnets and such (I am not, but I still want this!)

Found at Walk the Talk

Okay, foxes are fallish, right?  And, oh so hot right now.... they won't replace the owls at my house, but I really adore this sweet letterpress card

Found at Sycamore Street Press

And while we are talking cute... how about this pair of tweedy squirrels?

Found at Sleepy King

And while we are talking pears... (did I lose you...oh well)

Found at Stephanie Monroe

I love this leaf in this vintage frame!  So, so pretty!

Found at Neawear

So, are you looking forward to this long weekend?  We are!  We are riding the Thomas Train tomorrow with baby hughes' bff.  Yeah, he is 2 and I decided who his bff is...

And, I am going to work on updating my etsy shop with some new designs and vintage finds.

And, I have some photos of a finished (yippee!) powder room to take.

And, I may start to work on my secretary very, very soon.

So, have a happy and safe weekend! 

Bye for now!

A Change of Plans

Well, what a kind of crazy weekend we had here... great though!  As you see above, I made our weekend yummy with these cupcakes  that didn't end up being for my goddaughter's birthday... plans change... we roll with it... I have NOT had 2 cupcakes today.....  nor did I allow baby hughes to have 2...

I will tell you that there is real fruit ( strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting )in these babies, so I don't feel too bad... vitamin C, you know.

Friday, we made a trip out to the booth to take out this piece

(before, of course)

And, after

Meet Janette.

She is named after my Grandma.  And, she got the same treatment as Tara.

See, I was thinking, if I painted a piece like Tara, then I could keep her...

This piece has pretty vintage porcelain knobs 

Check out those legs with original casters

Vintage map lined drawers...

See, so very much like the Tara...

Well, she sold today.  So, I had a few pieces in the works... but nothing completely finished.

And, we didn't think it would be a great idea to leave the booth practically empty all week... so... *sniff, sniff* Mr. Hughes took Tara out to the booth while the baby and I had some downtime.

So, I am a little sad.  I guess this will be my kick in the pants to get the Kate Secretary completed... or started for that matter.

 It isn't all sad though... nope... when we dropped off the Janette, we both fell for this...

I am just going to clean it up a little and add some fun labels and it will most likely be home to our CDs (original, I know, but hey they are all over the house)  And it looks way better in purpose.

And, I am almost... ALMOST finished with our powder room...

you want a sneak peek... sure you do....

There you go... there is your peek.  With any luck, it will be finished this week and I can show you the whole room.

So that was our weekend, well, minus the laughs and the tantrums and the new backpack and all the GREAT new words baby hughes is saying!

How was yours?

Oh, and I wanted to tell you that I am joining in  Heather's Making it Lovely at Blessed Little Nest.  Go see what everyone has done to make their world a little more special be it cupcakes and powder rooms or reading an extra book at bedtime.

Bye for now!

Friday Etsy Favorites *Cupcake*

Hello everyone!  It is Friday again... love those Fridays.  And, I have fun plans this weekend.  And, it involves *Cupcakes*  I know, I know.  They are "over with" and so "cliche."  Well, I am a late bloomer, so humor me.  Ever since I made the owl cupcakes, I have been looking for an excuse to make more.  And, this weekend I have one.... my goddaughter's impromtu birthday lunch.  So, here is how I would love to make them in style...

1st: Tie on a super cute apron becuase cupcake baking is messy work!

found at Pamwares

2nd (well actually first probably) Make sure your kitchen is cute enough to justify you spending time in it to begin with.  And, this sign is super cute... my Grandpa used to sing this song

found at Farouche

Next, pull out your recipe (adore letterpress!)

found at sweet harvey

Now, give something to your little monster or they are going to want to play with the salmonella batter

Don't think these would fool baby hughes though...

found at bug bites play food

Where are those room temperature eggs... apparently very necessary.... oh here they are in my adorable bowl!

found at circa ceramics

I am feeling indecisive... which cupcake wrappers... these or

these?

(I ordered both... found them at cupcake social)

Ding!  They are done... hot, hot, hot!

found at pig and company

Okay, now how should I decorate them...

alright, the black floral wrappers get these

edible sugar butteflies

found at sugar robot

And the white, whimisical wrapper will get these in the mini size!

found at twirlie whirlies

Now, let me put that on a mini plate for you

found at aedriel originals

and you will need a napkin to wipe that yummy frosting that is on your face

 for the adults:

found at betsy grace

and for the littles

or should that be the other way around....

found at cakehouse

Okay, I am off to my friday job of fluffing the booth.  The chairs and the bench sold, so I am taking a piece that got Tarafied last week...

Then I plan on spending quite a bit of time outside.... it has been so pretty this week.  Oh, but don't let me forget to make those cupcakes for my sweet, sassy goddaughter... you want to see what I got her... okay... don't tell her *wink*

found and purchased here

Oh... and I have a powder room to finish.... better get busy, busy, busy!!

Bye for now!

Latest Project

Good Evening!  Hope your weekend was great!  Mine was pretty wonderful.... we went to see Ray Lamontagne and David Gray and it was amazing!  Best show ever!  Other than that we had a pretty low key weekend.  I did start on a room that Mr. Hughes thought was finished... silly Mr. Hughes!

When we moved into this house, I had a great plan to paint our powder room.  I wanted something bold in the small space.  So, I had Mr. Hughes paint cherry blossoms and branches on the walls....

And, while it is exactly how I wanted it, well, the colors I chose, well, the flowers, they looked like they were moving.  Like pulsing or something. (I am not on nor have I ever taken LSD. Seriously.) Mr. Hughes thought so too.  

So, after I got the okay from Mr. Hughes (I had to make sure that I wasn't going to tick him off by painting over it) I set to work on redoing this tiny space.  

I have already started painting (those flowers don't want to go anywhere!) and gathering up some fun stuff to change things up a bit.  This bathroom was fun, but it is time to say goodbye.  I just wanted to share the Before...or is it the 1st After....

So, with that in the works, I haven't done much else, except this....

Mr. Hughes picked up this can type thing somewhere.... I think it is part of a ice cream maker.... anyhow, I liked it... it reminds me of the big painted coffee cans that held our school supplies in kindergarten.  It is perfect for picking up the crayons and some extra trains and stuff on baby hughes' table (a birthday present from Ash and Nana.)

So, it was kind of plain....

I had these cloth books laying about that I had bought to do some sewing projects with and hadn't done anything with as of yet...

And we had some magnet paper.... so I made a giant magnet to make a fun little bucket.

No big whoop. 

Hopefully, I will have a powder room to show you sometime this week or next.... and maybe I will let the Mr. take the photos... it is really hard to get great photos of a tiny space.... and I really don't think I can justify a fish eye lens for one blog post...

Have a great week!

Bye for now!