Giorgina from Decor Medley recently interviewed me for her website. Before I started blogging the only interviews I was lucky enough to get were job interviews! It's such an honor that someone would want to interview me just because of my blog! Isn't blogging great? You can read the interview by clicking here. Thank you Giorgina!
Do you remember that last month I showed you some beautiful things that Lorrie, one of my blog readers sent me? Well, she sent me more beautiful things! When I came home Wednesday night all happy with my double soup tureen jackpot there was a package waiting for me. How good can one day get? Really? And how did I suddenly become such a lucky person? Actually I've always been really lucky except in love. Anyway...look at these beautiful things. Lorrie and I email back and forth a lot because we love the same things. She's now got me hooked on Cambridge Glass and I've been bad and bidding on some on eBay. I told Lorrie she's a bad influence on me. She told me that I'm a bad influence on her! Haha! I have yet to win a bid but I may keep trying!
She sent me two Cambridge glass sugar and creamer sets. It's hard to photograph the beautiful etched pattern on them. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see more detail! They are gorgeous!
She also sent me a lot of hand painted plates! These will be moving into my hutch this weekend!
Did you notice I put my soup tureens in the blue armoire in the background?
Oops the cherries are upside down! I didn't notice that when I took the photo!
She also sent me another sterling ladle. GORGEOUS!!!
Thank you Lorrie! I love them all!!! You are such a generous person!!!
Every morning when I wake up, I tell myself "something amazing is going to happen today!" Then on my drive to work I say it to myself again. Throughout the day whenever I think about it I say it again and again. I don't just say it, but I really feel it! I really believe in the power of positive thinking and living in a positive way. Any way, to get to the point, something amazing happened to me yesterday but I have to go back and tell the story from the beginning...A couple months ago I found some cute little soup bowls (pictured above) at Marshalls. I thought it would be nice to have a soup tureen to match them so I did a Google search and found the perfect tureen at Williams Sonoma. The only problem... it was really expensive and there was no way I would spend that much on a soup tureen. So last night I stopped in the Salvation Army on my way home from work and you are not going to believe this....there on the shelf, were TWO of the Williams Sonoma's soup tureens!!! TWO!!!! The price....$7.50 each!!! I couldn't wait to get home and look them up on the Williams Sonoma website because I couldn't remember how much they were. I did my little happy dance when I saw they sell for $139 each!!! The suggested retail is $166.00! HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY!!!!
I bought one for me and one for my mom!
My theory is that someone must have bought these for their holiday dinner and then didn't want to store them. One of them still has the paper sticker on the bottom! I'm glad I live among these rich Silicon Valley people that like to donate their expensive things to the thrift stores for me to find!!!
I've been so busy making things for my etsy shop that I didn't even have a chance to figure out what I was going to put on my blog today so I just grabbed some of my old photos so I could have something pretty to share with you. If you've been reading my blog for awhile you've probably already seen these...I apologize. These were taken on my trip to Martha's Vineyard in June 2006! I'm hoping that I can return there for a vacation in the summer of 2010! I just have to save my pennies or win the lottery.
Thanks to all of you who entered my giveaway! I read every single comment and I'm so touched! You really don't have to say all those nice things to be entered to win. Next time I have a giveaway I'm going to say "no compliments" because I find myself blushing as I'm reading them. You are all so sweet and nice and polite!
This is my 600th post! Wow, that's mind-boggling to me! I can't believe that's possible! This blogging thing has become such a big part of my life...I actually feel like I'm a happier person now than before I started blogging. Does anyone else feel that into it or is it just that my life is so boring that this excites me? (I'm joking, my life is not boring, at least not to me) Anyway in honor of my 600th post and my new etsy shop, I would like to give away a pink toile heart. I'll probably throw in a couple other Valentine related things too!
Just leave a comment below by Friday night (Jan. 30, 2009) at 9:00 PM Pacific Time to enter. You don't have to have a blog to enter, just make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you if you win! I'll post the winner this weekend!
Look what I made this weekend! I am so thrilled with how it turned out!
It all started when I found this pink toile scrapbook paper. I planned on just putting it on a heart but then I thought it would make a wonderful banner for my hutch so I bought some coordinating scrapbook papers.
I couldn't find any lightweight letters so I bought a thick wood X and O to use as a pattern and a sheet of foam board. (I wanted to spell LOVE but they were out of L's) I traced the letters and the heart on the foam board and cut them out. Had I known that this would take forever to do, I probably wouldn't have started it. Let me tell you...it's really hard to get a clean cut with an X-Acto knife so I had sand the edges to get them straight and smooth...very time consuming!
I really would love to find some lightweight letters so I could make these for my etsy shop! I will be putting some pink toile hearts on my etsy shop soon. 
I have been busy this weekend making new things for my etsy shop and filling special orders! I just added this tassel, the green is a little brighter than this photo shows. I'll be adding some Valentine items next week! I've had so much fun making things but now I must clean the house!
I had mentioned earlier in the week that I had done some silk ribbon embroidery in the past. Here is some of my work. I added the embroidery to two stretch velvet shirts I had purchased. I did the embroidery at the neckline and at the wrist of each sleeve.
I also added some seed pearl beads which you really can't see in these photos. Believe it or not, these shirts have been through the washer and dryer many, many times! I'm amazed at how well the silk ribbon holds up.
I taught myself how to do this after I saw a beautiful piece in a quilt store while shopping with my mom. I still remember how amazed I was when I first saw it! I could not believe that you could embroider with silk ribbon...it just didn't seem like you would be able to pull ribbon through a piece of fabric! My mom assured me that it wasn't that hard to do. I already knew how to do basic embroidery because I had taken every sewing, craft, and Home Economics class that was available to me in Jr. High and High School and my mom had also taught me some things. I bought myself a silk ribbon embroidery book and went for it! It's so much fun...I would like to do some more of this some day! I sure wish I had more time to do everything that I love to do! 
Here's a little secret...
if you mix real dried hydrangeas...
with silk dried hydrangeas...
it's hard to tell they aren't all real! I don't listen to those designers that tell you to get rid of all your silk flowers! I think nice silk flowers in moderation look fine! 
I had to share some more heartfelt gifts I received from some blogging friends. The ever-so-talented Pat ~ Birds Nest on the Ground made me this pincushion! It looks big in these photos but it's just the right size to fit in the palm of your hand. Think about that when you look at the embroidery on this. Those little daisies are so tiny and dainty. Notice the beaded edging...gorgeous! She even added pins with blue and white beads! I love the ribbon embroidered roses! I used to do ribbon embroidery years ago. Maybe I'll show you some of mine later this week. You must visit Pat's blog to see her amazing needlework! She is so talented!
I also received a gift from my blogging friend Carol~Meadowsweet Days. I have to show you the beautiful bag first.
I think these French Dragees look pretty sexy in their beautiful, see-through bag. 
You may remember that I tried to find these to decorate my Christmas cookies and found out that they are illegal in California because they contain trace amounts of silver. Carol was so sweet and surprised me with some! I may even pull out the pink ones for Valentines Day cookies! You must go visit Carol and see her gorgeous conservatory! I dream of having a conservatory one day!
January just seems like it should be white, silver and crystal to me so that's what I did! My $10 flea market silver tray is filled with crystal candle sticks with white candles, mercury glass and white silk hydrangeas.
I think I'll work on just changing my centerpiece once a month. Maybe we should have a monthly centerpiece party and I'll put up a Mr. Linky so we can all join in! Does that sound like something you would like to see or be a part of? It would be a great way to get new ideas!I had Amber at The Shabbee Chick design a new banner for me and I also switched to a 3 column blog! If you are looking for a new look for your blog, I highly recommend Amber! I think she did a fantastic job!
One of these chairs cost less than $20 and the other is selling for $495 at PomPom Interiors (the link is on my sidebar).
Since I have "champagne taste on a beer budget" you know I could never afford to spend $495 on a chair like this! This first chair is the one I purchased at a flea market last summer for $15. I painted it and then upholstered it with blue linen that I found at the thrift store.... 4 yards for $4.00. I've showed this before on my blog but that was before I put the welting on. I think I should have used smaller welting so I may redo it someday! 
As I was listening to the news about the extremely cold weather that is hitting part our country right now, I found myself thinking about my blogging friends that live in these areas! I can't even imagine how hard it must be to do anything in that cold! I wish I could bottle up some of this record breaking warmth that we've been having in California and send it to you! 
Since I can't really do that I thought I would warm you up with something other than the white you are seeing everywhere! 
With this warm weather my bulbs are already starting to sprout. These are freesia and I can't wait until they bloom because they smell so wonderful!
I'm K I D D I N G ! Of course I know it's waaaaay too early to decorate for Easter but I had to share these cute faux-chocolate Easter Bunnies with you! I bought them at Marshalls. The one above is big and it was only $12.99! There is also a Mrs. Bunny that goes with him and I'm going back to get her. I wasn't sure I would like these once I got them home but I LOVE THEM! Yes, that's Valentine's candy in the jar and no I don't think it's too early to decorate for that! It is only a month away!
This smaller one above was $4.99! It's so funny, I bought them on my lunch hour and brought them back to my desk. I had them sitting on my file cabinet (because I'm like a kid that way) and everyone that walked up thought they were real! (they also think I'm a little crazy!)
My roses are still blooming....one rose at a time! I guess I shouldn't complain just having one rose to pick, after all it is January and I know a lot of you are freezing and covered in snow. Maybe this rose will warm you up and make it feel like Spring will be here soon!
But if my one rose isn't enough for you than you should check out Rosy Inspiration. It's summer in Australia and her roses are GORGEOUS!!! She also has some great rose tips on growing roses on her blog.
We been having warm weather here in Northern California. It's been in the mid-70s so I'm sure I'll have more roses blooming soon! I can hardly wait!
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Yep, that's a lemon!
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We have winners in my giveaway! I received 352 comments and 13 emails for a total of 365 entries! I used a random number generator to pick the numbers:
The randomly picked number is: 80
I'm so in love with this lamp from The Bella Cottage! It's a vintage porcelain lamp that has been rewired. 
Love this lampshade with creamy white paper roses! Just gorgeous!
I love everything about it...the shape, the color, the roses.
This lamp just speaks to me. It's out of my budget, but I can dream...
Ugly black electronic things look so out of place in my white summery home so I try to hide them all! The TV and stereo are in the armoire so when I'm not using them I can close the doors and not have to see them. I also hide my remote controls in this pretty covered dish which I bought at the thrift store awhile ago.
Of course, if you have a husband, he may not like this idea! ; )
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is hosting a 2008 Top 10 Projects Party today! As I was looking back through my blog I was very shocked to see how much I accomplished last year! It was hard to pick my top 10 but I did and here they are in no particular order:
#1 This blue china cabinet above was one of my big makeover projects. I bought it at a thrift store for $49 and I had originally painted it white but quickly realized I didn't like it. I took a chance that it would look better painted a gray-blue and now I love it! You can see the before pictures and also what it looked like painted white by clicking here.
#2 Ahhh the armoire...my most famous project! This armoire made me a prime-time star! No, not really but I was on HGTV's Rate my Space because of this armoire! This piece of furniture will always hold a special place in my heart because of that! What a dream-come-true to be on HGTV!!! It looks like my episode is still airing in Feb. and March, click here for the schedule. To see what the armoire looked like before I painted it, click here!
#3 Another big project last year was my dining room table and chairs! I actually painted two dining room tables last year! When I found this one I sold the other one. I bought this set at the Salvation Army. It was originally $300 but I waited and it finally went on sale for $175. To see the before pictures of this , click here. I also added some rose appliques to to the top of the chairs and recovered the seats.
#4 I also painted my kitchen (cabinet and walls) in 2008. This was a huge project but well worth it! To see the really ugly before pictures, click here.
#5 Another huge project...painting the hutch. I really can't believe I did ALL of this last year but I did! I bought this off of craigslist for $125. I first painted it all white but then later in the year painted the back of it a light blue. That made a huge difference! Click here to see the "before" pictures.
#6 Here's a smaller project. This chandelier was also bought off of craigslist I paid $65, they were asking $80! I decided to paint it white and hang it in my bedroom. You can see the "before" picture by clicking here. 
#7 This birdcage was another deal I couldn't pass up! I found this at the thrift store for $9.99!!! All I had to do is paint it white and add a little "Rub N Buff" to give it a shabby chic look! I love this birdcage. Click here to see the "before" picture and poor Beau in the cage!
#8 The shell wreath, not really a makeover project but I loved this wreath. I donated this to the Nie Recovery Auction . You can see how I made it by clicking here.
#9 Here is another small project. I bought this cute picnic basket at the thrift store and painted in green and then white-washed it. Click here to see how I did it.
#10 Fixing up my very small backyard patio has been an ongoing project since I moved into my place almost 5 years ago. Little by little I've added plants, and patio furniture and over time it's evolved into a nice little retreat. It seems like every summer my patio looks a little nicer as the plants begin to mature. I wish I had taken a "before" photo of what it looked like when I moved in. It was almost bare. I think there were two small plants back there. I'm looking forward to this summer, most of my projects should be done and I will have more time to relax on my patio.
I'm just amazed at how generous some of my readers are! I received an email awhile back from Lorrie saying she would like to send me something. Well, on Christmas Eve a huge package arrived on my doorstep. When I opened it up I could not believe all the things inside... Really beautiful things! Hand-painted dishes, 4 depression glass sherbet dishes, sterling silver serving spoons, beautiful paper napkins, an amazing ceramic iris, and loads of vintage linens!
Tablecloths, napkins, hankies, runners, doilies, pillowcase...you name it, it was in there! All this new linen inspired me to organize mine a little better so I've been gathering mine up...it was stashed in almost every closet and drawer in my apartment. I spend most of New Years day ironing and I'm not finished but here is what I have so far...
I now have my tableclothes, runners, and napkins stored on the bottom shelf of my blue armoire and every time I walk by, it makes me smile! Have I mentioned that I love vintage linens?
I think it's time for another giveaway! We all love giveaways don't we? I went into Marshalls while I was off on Christmas vacation and found another one of these adorable teapots and I thought it would be a wonderful thing to giveaway on my blog so I bought it just for you!
Debbie Kay ~ My Vintage Daydreams sent me this Blue & White in your home book but I already had it so Debbie and I decided to give it away on my blog. It's a beautiful book from the editors of the old Victoria Magazine.
I will be drawing two names so please leave a comment and tell me which one you would like to win. You can also say "either" and I will put your name in the hat for each of them. You may enter anytime before Saturday, January 10th at midnight (PST). This drawing is open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada (due to shipping costs). If you don't have a blog, please be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you!
Feel free to spread the word about my giveaway!
I thought I could do it. Sometimes I think I am capable of doing anything... a real independent woman! I'm not! My faucet was dripping so I figured rather than call my landlord that I would fix it myself. After all, I put in a new prettier faucet because I didn't like the ugly standard apartment faucet that was here when I moved in. I know how to fix a leaky faucet...really I do! The only problem is that the water underneath the sink wouldn't shut off completely so after I took the faucets off to replace the gaskets I couldn't do it because they kept filling up with water and the gasket would just float up! The next step would be to shut off the water outside but then the whole apartment complex would be without water so I did what I should have done in the first place...I called my landlord and she gave me the number of the plumber. Now I have to wait until Monday...why do things like this always happen on Sundays?
Each one takes on a different personality and it's hard to choose a favorite!
I was looking around my home for materials to make more and I thought my little white bird salt and pepper shakers from Target would look cute (above). Then I found a large blue egg and made one from that (below).
