Scarlet Sashes, Furniture and Boutique

Ok, so after painting furniture for fun and for friends, I have decided to turn my creative outlet into a business:) Scarlet Sashes will now be my very own little (on-line) furniture store and boutique. I would love to share all the details with you, but they are still in "the works". I am still working on business cards, a website and all that other stuff that goes along with a small business. We are hoping to have it all up and going around the first of November. I will keep you all posted!

An awesome praise report is that I already made enough to purchase my paint sprayer! Yay! Thanks for everyone who prayed with me that I would get it:) My next big prayer is that I can paint enough pieces for a back yard play set for our kids.
She considers a field (or a piece of furniture) and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard, (or a backyard play set). I LOVE THIS!!! My dear sister -in-law wrote this in my birthday card. It made me smile:)
My new paint booth and paint sprayer. As you can see from the first picture, I have so many projects lined out...some for me and some custom pieces for clients. I can't wait to get started!

Thanks to all my great friends and followers of this blog... I am so excited to see what the future holds!

Living Room Update

Does anyone think it is hard to find their decorating "style"?

I do.

I know I love toile, florals, and animal prints. I know I always seem to gravitate towards reds and browns and blacks. I know I love furniture that looks "lived in".

I know that decorating a home takes time...sometimes even years. I know some people will eventually get their home decorated just the way they like it. I don't think I ever will. I seem to always want to try something new...move a piece of furniture to a different room....hang a picture on a new wall. Any friend of mine knows how true this is.

Case in point: I recently rearranged my living room. And...if you remember in a previous post, I had 7 lamps in the living room. Well, I now have 2!! Aren't you shocked?! I can hardly believe it myself. This week I like the arrangement. I'm sure if you check back next week, something will be different.
My new inspiration is designer Heather Chadduck. I wish she had a blog, a mailing address, or a contact number:) I wish she was my friend or neighbor. Oh...how I love Heather Chadduck. Anyway, I have recently been asking myself..."what would Heather do?". So far I haven't heard a response.
So, until Heather comes to visit and helps me decorate my house, I guess I will just keep trying to "find my style". I will keep moving furniture all over my house. I will put new nail holes in my walls, I will probably paint another table black, and probably add a few more lamps back into my living room.

Oh Heather if only you would come help me - if you did, I promise I wouldn't move a thing...until you left:)

Home Tours - Teaser

I mentioned yesterday that I would be giving you a tour of two amazing homes in the next couple of weeks...here is a little teaser to leave you wanting more....:)Our inspiration - this is Lisa's dining room. I LOVE IT. The zebra fabric is so fun and it really works with the simple wall decor.
This is a glimpse of Kelsi's home. We are not finished yet, but we have come soooo far!!! (I can't wait to show you the "before" pics)

We are going to add a beautiful buffet (that I am painting), possibly a pair of lamps, and some "bling". Like Lisa's dining room, we are going to stick to simple decor, and let the fun zebra fabric get all the attention.

I've Been Busy!!!

I know, I know - I have not done the best job at updating my blog. But, let me tell you...I HAVE BEEN BUSY!!! Since the first of July I have painted at least 8 pieces of furniture. Lets see...an armoire, three accent tables, a coffee table, bookcase...and the list goes on. I really want to purchase some new painting tools, so painting for friends has helped put a little cashola in the "paint sprayer fund". Next will be the "air nailer fund". Good bye designer jeans...hello power tools:)

One of my favorite pieces is this entry table I did for my friend Kelsi. I can't wait to show you the rest of her house. It seems like we have been working night and day on projects for her house, and it is looking amazing!This little table started out as white and red. It is amazing what some paint and a little TLC can do to an old piece of furniture. I know these pictures aren't the best quality. I know I should start using a real camera instead of my iPhone. But, those of you who know me, know I can hardly keep my phone charged, or located. To ask me to charge and carry a camera is a little more than I can handle:)
With in the next two weeks I will be posting some more home tours. I am so excited to show you my friend Lisa's house - she has incredible style. Kelsi and I are actually using Lisa's house as our "inspiration".

So, please forgive me for not posting more, and please say a prayer with me that I get that paint sprayer!!!haha

Heirloom Party

Marie , at Emma Calls Me Mama, is hosting a Heirloom

Party - you should stop by her blog for a visit:)

http://emmacallsmemama.com/

By nature, I am a "keeper". So, my children will probably have a lot of heirlooms:)
One thing that I would love to pass down to my kids is this leather settee. It didn't have any sentimental value to me until we took our family pictures on it last Christmas. Now, I would like to keep it forever:) Who knows, maybe this settee will be a reoccurring backdrop for many pictures to come....our next baby, bridal pictures, grandchildren.....
The other thing that I want to give to my children are these red and white dishes. My collection isn't very extensive, but because these dishes are timeless, I think my children will easily be able to add to the collection for years to come.
I love these dishes from my mom's mom. I am not sure how old these dishes are, but I love the vintage look of these dishes. My mom came from a family of 13 kids. These dishes were their "everyday dishes". Can you imagine the many meals these dishes held? I truly cherish these dishes.
Another item that I hold dear to my heart is this gold mirror. This mirror belonged to my Grandma Elsie. My Grandma loved this mirror and so do I.

I feel so blessed to have heirlooms from my family in my home.

Rustic Bookcase

Ok, so this was today's project...painting a bookcase.

But, this isn't my bookcase, it belongs to my friend Kelsi. I agreed to help her paint it (since I pretty much talked her into buying it off Craigslist, and her husband had to drive 40 miles to get it) and when asked about painting it, she said "surprise me."

So Kelsi,...SURPRISE!!!
The good news is that I really like the way it turned out, and it would look awesome in my bedroom...so if it gets the thumbs down from the Webber Family, I'll gladly keep it:)
I will wait to get a shot of the full piece when it is in Kelsi's house, or my bedroom:) The garage doesn't do it justice.
This is the base coat. I painted it all white. I actually loved the white, but I wanted to give it a more rustic feel. The plain white was a little to "cottage/shabby chic" if she decides to use it in her son's room.

After I painted it white, I sanded it. I really got after this piece with the sander. You know, I will spend hours painting a piece just because I love to sand it. I thought this piece was going to distress well, and it did.

After I distressed it, I put stain all over it. This wasn't too fun because I DON'T LIKE PAINTING SHELVES!!! I really like painting furniture, but the less shelves the better. Drawers...good. Shelves....bad,bad,bad:(

Then, I painted on small touches of blue to match either Kelsi's living room, her son's bedroom, or my bedroom:)
This is how the old beauty started out. A little too orange, but I knew it had potential. I know many think I am crazy, but I loved today - getting to be outside and paint.

I also feel accomplished, I finished one of my projects! yay!

Oh Craigslist...you do keep me busy:)

Bathroom Bling

Ok, so after being in our house for almost 2 years, we finally got vanity mirrors! I am super excited. Now, I am trying to find some cute accessories. Take a look at some of this bathroom bling from the awesome mother and daughter team - Kay and Stephanie:)

This is on the back of Kay's toilet. You know I am lovin' the leopard ribbon!
Thinking I may copy this idea....Calgon, take me away!!!
It seems like I have a ton of little soaps from hotels...this would be cute too.
I also really like these canisters.
This is my favorite! I keep forgetting to ask Stephanie where she got it.

When you are decorating, don't forget your bathrooms! Even your toilet deserves a little bling:)