bathroom vanity annie sloan redo

March 22, 2016

My friend Wendy recently decided she needed a change for her bathroom vanity and asked me if I would like to paint it. Of course, I jumped at the chance! She had looked at the Annie Sloan chalk paint colors and thought she would like Chateau Grey.

Chateau Grey was one of the few colors I hadn’t yet used for a painting project and I was eager to paint with it. The green tones in the paint were perfect for the accessories Wendy had in her bathroom and I knew she made the perfect choice in paint color.

The vanity was wood and very dark. We both knew that the chalk paint would lighten up the entire look of the room. The great part about painting the piece was that it would highlight some of the detail that really went unnoticed.

I started by painting the piece with two coats of Chateau Grey. Over that, I applied a wash of approximately 50/50 water and Annie Sloan Country Grey by painting, then wiping with a soft, clean cloth. I like adding a wash over a solid paint color because it gives more dimension to the paint.

Next, I added a coat of clear wax. Then, I gave the piece a light distressing before adding some dark wax. After the piece was completed, I added an extra coat of clear wax to the top of the piece since it is in the bathroom and I wanted to give the top a little added protection.

Wendy decided to keep the original hardware on the vanity and it looked great on the finished piece. She did change out the faucet in her sink.

The before faucet is pictured in the photo on the lower right. You can see the difference switching out the faucet made to the overall look of the vanity. The strawberry water? Well, that is one of the perks of doing a job for a friend!

The little decorating touches and glimpse of Easter Wendy added to the room made it just perfect!

The only thing better than helping a friend with a painting project? Helping a friend with a painting project that involves a family heirloom! That is the case with the next project I have almost completed and will be sharing soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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nests and eggs for spring

March 15, 2016

My last work assignment had me thinking about all things Western. Now that I am back from my trip to Texas, the only thing I can think about is spring in New England!

Spring really has a jump on me this year! Easter is only 2 weeks away and I have not dyed one egg! I usually have tons done by now! Not only that, last Sunday I was an hour late to work because I had forgotten about the clock change!

Today, I am grabbing all my found nests and eggs and plan to arrange them on my mantle as my tribute to the coming season. I love to decorate with natural materials and nests and eggs are definitely favorites of mine; right behind sea glass, shells, and driftwood!

A mantle full of nests and eggs is a great way to welcome spring into the house! If you don’t have a found collection, garden stores and craft stores have some great ones that look realistic that work just as well. Dyeing eggs (after removing the insides) in natural shades also look great in a natural looking arrangement. Remember to add some branches from the yard – unusual shapes look especially interesting!

I hope I have inspired you to create a tribute to spring in your home. Enjoy this special time of year!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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first visit to texas

March 11, 2016

It has been a crazy week for me – a very busy time for two of my jobs! One was in Texas and gave me the opportunity to travel to the Lone Star state for the very first time. The Texas weather could have been better – the area I visited experienced some of the rain that has been so severe in parts of Texas as well as some other areas of the South.

In spite of the weather, I experienced many bright spots in my life over the past few days. It wasn’t the weather providing these bright spots…the sunshine was provided by the people I met! My job gave me the opportunity to meet many fabulous people and the experience made my heart sing!

I had to hit the ground running when I got back from my few days away – very busy with another job and trying to control the wave of sadness over the loss of a friend’s brother that really breaks my heart.

So, Friday field trip today is just a few quick glimpses of the location I visited in Texas. I thank those I worked with in addition to all the new people I met for making me smile during a week that ends with heartbreak – particularly for my dear, sweet, friend that lost her brother. xo

Thanks for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things and to appreciate those close to you, Jackie

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diy journal

March 8, 2016

You can make a great journal with a basic computer and some office supplies. Professional binding is not needed for great DIY journal results!

I made this hiking journal using regular copy paper. To add a little style, I printed the cover page on a slightly heavier stock I found in brown at a craft store.

To make empty journal pages, I just decided how many pages I wanted my final product to be. My journal was made by using standard 8 1/2” x 11” copy paper, used horizontally. When the journal is stapled and folded, it is a convenient size to carry on a hike!

The beauty of making a journal yourself is that you can use any design or color you may want. I chose a compass design printed on the cover of mine to coordinate with a hiking theme. Set up the cover you’d like on your home computer, selecting landscape or your page orientation. If you set the layout into two columns, it is pretty easy to figure out how the page will look when it is folded. Once you have created and printed out a cover page the way you like it, you can use a copy machine to copy the page onto the colored stock.

If you decide to include some print on your inside pages, it can get a little trickier – you will probably want to make up a sample book to be sure the pages are laid out properly and you may need double-sided copy on some or all of the pages. Once the pages are stacked the way you like, use a long-arm stapler to add two staples (the good side facing the outside of your journal). Then, just fold.

This same method is great for creating a DIY wedding program. For this, you can add a cord or ribbon to the binding.

I hope I have inspired you to create a DIY journal!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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time to plant easter grass!

March 4, 2016

It is that time of year when I plant grass in every pretty container I can find in preparation for Easter! So, for today’s Friday field trip – a quick peek at a couple past containers to give you some inspiration for grass plantings this year!

You can click on this link to get instructions on planting grass in your favorite containers…

Or, click here for the link on planting grass in eggshells!

Such fun!

I have started my grass planting for the year and will be sharing my creations soon! I hope today’s post will serve as a reminder for you to start your Easter grass!

Happy planting! (Tip: Be sure to use potting soil, not outdoor soil – you don’t want to bring any unwanted insects, etc. in from outdoors!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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tequila shot favors

February 23, 2016

Today, I am sharing some super easy favors for a Western party. Although I am much more Coastal than I am Country Western, I have recently been involved with a Western themed event and I came up with these super cute themed favors.

I was inspired by these teeny ‘nip’ bottles of tequila. How cool are these! The small versions look exactly like the full size bottles. My idea was simply to put a small bottle of tequila with a themed shot glass. I found some mini boot shot glasses and ‘barbed wire’ cording at a party store to complete my idea!

I packaged the tequila with the shot glass in a clear bag and tied with the cording…easy!

I kept it simple and used a clear bag so the contents were visible, but there are so many variations that can be used with this packaging idea. A brown lunch bag or red bandana would also work really well in place of the clear bag. If you prefer, raffia can replace the cording I used. A wooden tag is a great item to tie onto the package if you need to add a message or a name to the gift. Or, cut a cardboard tag to resemble a lime slice. Let out your inner cowboy go wild!

For a children’s party, this idea can work just as well using a mini bottle of juice. A sheriff’s badge or mini horseshoe can be tied onto the package as a cute add-on.

I hope I have inspired you for your next Western themed party!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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jonesing for spring

February 16, 2016

The below zero temperatures here in Connecticut have caused me to have many day dreams about spring!

I thought things might start looking a little like spring at Terrain (one of my fave stores) and, on a recent visit, I was not disappointed. The winter displays are starting to be replaced with some touches of the next season. Taking a little time to visit the store with a friend is not only inspiring, but a great way to forget about the winter blahs – if only for a short time!

Here are some favorite things from my visit! Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pencil love

February 12, 2016

I have a love for pencils. I can’t help it. I prefer old school notebook and pencil over a keyboard any day. And, I certainly wouldn’t give up my beautiful Kate Spade organizer for the electronic phone version! I love the aesthetics and the feel of a good organizer and I would never reduce all my painstakingly made plans to lifeless little boxes on the calendar of my android!

Pencil inspiration for the next generation! The wonderful children’s book by Allan Ahlberg.

For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing a little pencil love!

cool erasers from CW Pencil Enterprise in NYC

Some really cool erasers from CW Pencil Enterprise in New York City. A ‘must visit’ for any pencil lover!

I enjoy both using pencils and giving pencils! Some of my past pencil gifts have included some DIY fringed pencils that are perfect for Valentine’s Day (click here for the link),

customized ‘beachy’ pencils (click here for diy),

and personalized pencils for book lovers (click here for diy).

I love giving pencils with customized printing. They are so fun to create and it is a fun challenge to contain a message to a limited number of letters!

I hope I have inspired a little pencil love today! :)

Check out my Facebook page today to read more about these amazing carved pencil tip sculptures by artist Dalton Ghetti!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine’s day gift diy

February 9, 2016

A rubber stamp is a great accessory for some Valentine’s Day fun!

A simple tag, brown paper, or muslin bag can transform a little something into a special valentine for someone you care about – all you need is a Valentine’s Day themed rubber stamp.

If you don’t already own them, pick up a Valentine’s Day rubber stamp and a red ink pad in the dollar section of Target or in a local craft store. Choose a stamp with a simple line design – they work the best for this type of application.

A stamped muslin bag can be used to tuck some treats into a lunch box or to gift a ‘cup of tea’ (slip in a teabag) to a friend. I often find packages of these muslin bags, priced very inexpensively, at HomeGoods in the home utensil section – they are sold to make herb sachets. They can also be purchased at a craft or paper store.

Many other household materials can be used as Valentine’s Day wrapping. Brown bags are perfect to stamp and can be used as gift bags or wrapping paper. Tissue paper, fabric scraps, and dishtowels also work well.

Any scrap cardboard can be cut, stamped, and used as a gift tag. I like making tags cut from paint sample swatches to stamp on as well. Wrap up a single cupcake or cookie and add a cute homemade tag!

I hope I have inspired you to have a little stamping fun this Valentine’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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love is in the air

February 5, 2016

I often think of how everything in life comes down to being a great editor. It is the most important skill we possess. Our editing of life’s choices and resources is a reflection of who we are…it creates our image, establishes our integrity (or lack of), and develops our character. With the constant stream of choices that present themselves to us; it is the editing that determines everything in life.

One of the biggest editing assignments we can take on is the one of choosing a spouse -– the ultimate test of editing skill! I have been thinking a lot about this in the past week because one of my children is now engaged! With the news of the engagement, I started thinking about this ultimate test of editing and how the editing of past generations led our family to what it is today.

A romantic moment shared by our ancestors – 2 generations ago.

So, for today’s Friday field trip, I just wanted to share those few thoughts as I celebrate a very special engagement and the start of another generation of romantic moments.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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love is in the air