Updated my house and decided to stay!!!

So it has been a while since I posted. I was going to live in the country and be a farmer. Well... things don't always work out the way you plan. We stayed where we are and decided to update instead. John and I decided to go for it and this is what the results are.We put in wood floors, took out the 1980's bookcase and installed a wood wall. I did a faux treatment on the wood.  We took out a linen closet and made a display case. My dining room now functions as storage and adds to the country feel. We also installed a storm cellar this fall and are ready to head into the spring season. This summer we will be doing some major work to the yards.

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Dining Room Before

Dining Room After

Living Room Vignette

Display Case

Come on by my store and check out the new greeting cards I have available! Here are just a few. Most cards are available for $3.00 a piece. Greeting Card Universe has specials running almost daily for great discounts! You can find cards here that you can not find in any other store. The quality is amazing. You won't be sorry!

12 Step Recovery

Happy Mother's Day Step-Mom 

Firefighter Training Graduation

Eggs

My newest creation ...  EGGS

Made this for my kitchen or dining room.

Photo Frames Redo

Being a photographer, I am drawn to frames of every type and size. The thrift store has no shortage of great finds. Here a some before and after photos of some I have found.

Great finds (Before)

Love these beauties! (Before)

My family for the perfect touch! (After)

Melba 1977

My last trip to Goodwill landed me a wonderful find! A beautiful painting by Melba, dated 1977.

This reminded me of my grandmother. Grandma painted some beautiful flowers in her day. Unfortunately, she had LOTS of kids and I never got to have one of her paintings because they were in high demand. I found it quite sad someone in Melba's family would let this go, or Melba decided it wasn't good enough to keep. I think it's absolutely beautiful and will think of Grandma every time I look at it.

I refurbished the frame. I think the painting stands out so much better!

Melba 1977 Before

Melba 1977 After

Grammy's Girl

I just want to break out in song when I talk about this sweet angel! Her name is Liberty and she is just too precious for words. Although I'm not her "official" grandma, she calls me "Grammy". Her eyes light up when she sees me and she just about knocks me over running into my arms. She's a little spit-fire! I took this photo when I first met her about a year ago. She's 3 now, but still just as adorable as the day I met her. I can't help but smile when I talk about her ... she just kinda does that to ya. I get to see her tonight. I'm beaming already!

Off to the flea market!

I went to the flea market at the county fairgrounds this last weekend. I wasn't sure what I was looking for ... but I never am! They had some really great stuff. I'm trying real hard not to buy anything big that I will have to move when we get our new house, so I had to pass up on a couple of larger items. Then I spotted them...two replicas from my childhood. Pinkie and Blue Boy, at least that's what I called them. I'm not sure the real names of the sculptures, but my mom had them sitting beneath the paintings of Pinkie and Blue Boy, so I guess I just went with that. Anyways, I practically ran toward them so I could get them before someone else. It didn't matter how much the vendor wanted for them, they were mine! Just as I picked them up an older man walked up and told me everything on the table was ONE DOLLAR!!!  I couldn't believe I was actually getting a good deal on something I wanted so much.  I also found a ceramic gentleman that would fit nicely somewhere in my house (that's what I told myself anyways). I gladly forked over the 3 bucks.

The 50 year old (1962 stamp on the back) duo needed a little work and I was all too happy to oblige.

This is them, with some great textures by Kim Klassen. I used the "not so shabby" texture and the "simplicity" texture.

Here are the before and after photos:

I had painted the pink roses before I remembered I wanted to take a photo of them before. They were both solid gold. The sculptures are 6" x 10 1/2".

Added to Texture Tuesday on 02/21/2012! 
Texture Tuesday!