Old Britain Castles

Thanks for dropping by...

the table this week features a favorite set, 

Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles in blue.

I saw this set several years ago and loved everything about them.

I'll bet you've seen them in pink too...think about using them for Christmas, Valentine's Day...

so pretty!

http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Brothers-Britain-Castles-5-Piece/dp/B0000B2M81

Anyway, I paired the blue set with off-white and burlap, 

burlap helping to bring a little casualness to the table.

For a little twist, vintage lace was added to the ends of the runners and utensil holders were also added. If you notice there are two types...one with just burlap, the others with matching lace.

I like them both and couldn't decide which to choose so I tried them both.

Enjoy!

I'm joining these parties:

Kathleen's Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

In case you're interested:

Chargers - Pier 1

Off-white dishes - Oneida Westerly Basket - Bed Bath & Beyond 

Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles - blue - My Tableware.com

Stemware - Dollar Store

Tan napkins - World Market

Blue/white napkins - handmade

Flatware - Onieda Michelangelo

Centerpiece - Antique

Burlap fabric/ribbon/vintage lace - handmade

Vintage Mirror

I was in the market for a vintage mirror 

but couldn't find one the right size

or the right price.

So, I did the next best thing...

I made one that looked vintage to put in an existing frame.

After searching online, I found this site.
Amy, over at Atta Girl Says has a great tutorial.
I followed it to the "T" and I'm very pleased

Here are the basic supplies:
glass (I had a piece cut)
Krylon Looking Glass Mirror Spray
vinegar/water solution

Here is the beginning point...clear glass, be sure to clean it very well.

After 5 coats and the beginning of distressing.

You can control the mirror-like look with the amount of layers you spray...
I wanted one that looked worn and foggy.
(This was 5 coats of spray, vinegar distressing, then two additional coats of spray)

It's difficult to get a close up of this mirror, but here you can see a bit of the distressing.
Again, this is a controllable, just adjust the amount of vinegar solution used.

I love my faux vintage mirror...
it's perfect for this bedroom that's still in progress.

Think of the possibilities with this paint...it's endless!


I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Metamorphosis Monday
and Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life for her Inspire Me Tuesday.
Be sure to drop by for loads of inspiration!

Thought for the Day...habits (part 2)

Welcome to Thought for the Day.
(If you'd like to see the the first part of this post, click here.)

Today's verses comes from our pastor's message on a previous week.

It was something that I needed to hear, so I thought I'd share it with you today.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"

Titus 2:11-12

So how do we strive to live godly lives? 

Let's look at scripture for advice:

Put God First

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

Firmly Plant God's Will in Our Minds

"Don't not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12:2

God Calls Us to Have Integrity and to Be Honest

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

Luke 16:10

God Wants Us to Enter His Rest

"There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works,  just as God did for him. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest..."

Hebrews 4:9-11

Our pastor's message was a great reminder for me:

 put God first...the rest will fall into place.

Have a blessed weekend!

I use the Life Application Study Bible, New International Version (NIV) printed by Zondervan

Burlap and Lace

I am head-over-heals crazy for burlap. 

Not that that's anything new,

but...

I'm having a great time using it this fall.

Add a little lace and I'm a happy girl!

Today's table mixes burlap, lace, and white dishes.

It's a very simple table...calming and relaxing,

perfect for a cool fall day!

Enjoy!!

Burlap utensil holders were made from wired ribbon. 

The width was exactly the right size and the trim gives a great look.

No table cloth, just a simple runner.

Need some color? 

No problem...

this monochromatic table would be the perfect base 

in adding your favorite fall colors. 

Hm...I'm thinking pumpkin pie!

Special thanks to my good friend Sarah and her husband 

for the gorgeous plant used in today's centerpiece.

I'm joining two parties today:

Kathleen over at Cuisine Kathleen for her Let's Dish 

and 

Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday.

Be sure to drop by both parties for loads of inspiration!

In Case You're Interested:

Grass Chargers - Pier 1

White Chargers - Marshall's

Dinner/Salad Plates - Lenox Opal Innocence Carved

Flatware - Michelangelo

Burlap fabric/lace made into runner

Burlap wired ribbon made into utensil holders - Hobby Lobby

Stemware - Dollar Store

Napkins - World Market/ vintage set

Transforming "throw aways"...

I'm a softy...I admit it.

I've been that way my entire life...

my skin is paper thin.

I cry easily...

and always root for the underdog.

Where is this leading?

Well,

when I saw these wooden pieces at a resale store,

I couldn't just leave them there feeling unloved.

No, not this one...

it looked like a little piece of furniture, right?

A little jewelry armoire.

Inside was a place for necklaces, rings, earrings, and even a drawer.

And then there was this guy.

I don't know why it caught my attention but I thought he was kinda cute.

(And there are two drawers that should have made it in this picture.)

I wanted these pieces to have a second chance,

so someone would love them,

and would want to keep them forever.

So, the tools came out:

screwdriver

sander

paint

and the fun began.

Are you ready for the transformations?

The jewelry box was painted and distressed... 

the plastic "windows" of the doors were replaced with metal screening material.

(Don't the hangers for necklaces remind you of little chandeliers?)

Anyway...

The back wall was covered with bead board wallpaper.

And the rest of the "velvet" fabric was painted.

I think she looks updated and really cute.

(I'm still loving that screening!)

Now for the little shelf:

At first I thought it would make a precious little chair...

too curvy for a little boy,

perhaps better for a little girl...and it could be pink...

but

I don't have any little ones around my house.

And I'd want to sew a pillow...

but I'm not very good at sewing pillows.

So, I went with plan B:

a message center.

My sister suggested adding containers to hold clips and such...

well, how about two!

Yes, I think that's much better...

a whimsical place 

to keep track of all that important stuff  information on my kitchen counter.

Two for two...I was on a roll.

Then there was this last piece that needed to be rescued...

a duck basket.

It was painted "folk artsy" red/blue/green with little dotted flowers...

cute, but not the direction I was headed.

Here's the "after the paint" picture:

(yep, forgot to take the "before" picture)

At this stage, jute was added...

a simple burlap flower for each side,

and polka dot craft paper to line the bottom.

(Doesn't anything with polka dots make you smile?)

 Much better, right?

Yes, I think so too!

I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Metamorphosis Monday.

Drop by for loads of inspiration, you won't be disappointed!

Thought for the Day...habits.

Welcome to Thought for the Day.

Today's verses comes from our pastor's message this past week.

It was something that I needed to hear, so I thought I'd share it with you today.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; 

rather, train yourself to be godly.

I Timothy 4:7

I picked up on the word "train" because there is a lot of talk about physical training, 

whether it's for an athletic event or for health reasons.

With all this said, however, physical health is susceptible to disease and injury.

But spiritual exercising is different. 

Having faith can sustain us through these injuries or even tragedies.

Training ourselves to be godly takes practice to become a habit. 

We can develop our faith by using our God given abilities in service of God.

This can be shown through our actions or service to community or to our church.

Now, developing those habits takes a bit of work.

How long does it take for an action to become a habit?

Some say 30 days, 60 days...several months. 

I'm not sure, but I know for myself, 

that if I'm not keenly aware of my actions, 

I tend to slip back into old habits.

ugh...

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"

Titus 2:11-12

So how do we develop spiritually?

Ask God for help.

He's there ready to be asked, in fact He's waiting to be asked! 

That's the beauty of all this...there is nothing too small or too great for Him.

And here I go again, sometimes I think my requests are too small 

to bother such a great and powerful God.

But what I'm really thinking is that I can handle this and don't need God's help.

What foolish thinking!

I'm more powerful than God?

I don't need him?

Absolutely NOT!

 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

It's really a spiritual exercise; turn to God for help, to fill your thoughts and desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything.

Next week we'll continue the subject of "habits"...

and this week 

I'm going to continue to practice going to God for everything, big and small.

You can too, He's there waiting for all of us!

Have a blessed weekend!

I use the Life Application Study Bible, New International Version (NIV) printed by Zondervan

Coffee Break...

Sometimes it's the simple things, right?

And sometimes just a little coffee break is that perfect little pick me up 

for your afternoon.

Add to that these cute plates

and you can practically feel yourself saying "ahhhh."

Each one has a different image...too cute.

Add a special glass piece to hold your vintage spoons and the little coffee corner is complete,

well almost.

Yes, they're ready...that other special treat from the oven 

will be perfect on my oh.so.cute plates...

and  then

my coffee corner will be complete.

So when you need a little break, be sure to treat yourself...

you'll be glad you did!

I'm joining two parties today:

Kathleen over at Cuisine Kathleen for her Let's Dish

and Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday.

Be sure to drop by for loads of inspiration!