My Style Evolution...oh my!

Jen at  Jennifer Rizzo  is hosting a fun party called  My Style Evolution where participants show how their decorating style has changed over time. 


I am showing the last two homes we have owned.  I have to warn you that these are scanned images and not the best quality.  Some of these pictures were for insurance purposes and taken minutes before we had to evacuate for Hurricane Ivan!  You'll notice it is pretty clean. I was running around cleaning up the house just prior to evacuating.  My husband thought I was crazy but I thought if it was destroyed I wanted photos of a  clean house!

First is our Florida beach house. We had this home custom built (3 times) and actually still own it.  It was gutted twice within nine months due to hurricane damage.  Upon our move to Virginia two years ago it became a rental and second home for us.  It is still furnished pretty much the same as the photos.  We only brought a few pieces of furniture when we moved.






The coffee table was moved further away so I could get a photo of the sofa for insurance purposes. 



Family Room from 2ND floor landing



The island was originally stained cherry.  After living with it for a while we decided to add bead board and I painted and glazed it.



Downstairs Bath. We had a vintage dresser made into a vanity.



. My favorite room in the house. I wish I had more pictures of our master bath. The tub is a vintage one that we had refurbished and the vanity was made out of a antique French buffet.



Guest room and home office.  My husband made the trundle bed. 




Next is our previous home in Lawrenceville, Ga. We also had this home custom built and we lived here for eight years before moving to the beach house.  Are you ready for the 1980s? 






No one could ever accuse me of being afraid of color!  I did love all the windows in the living room.



What was I thinking with that wallpaper?  It makes me dizzy now.  Everyone tried to talk me out of the white cabinets by telling me white wouldn't be in style in a couple of years..lol.





Thanks for taking the tour with me.  If you would like to see how our home looks today you can click on the pictures on the sidebar.


I'll be joining the parties at:
Jennifer Rizzo 
Savvy Southern Style 
Between Naps On The Porch 
French Country Cottage 
Southern In My Heart 
My Romantic Home 







Join Jen for this link-up party.  I want to see your 1980s style!


If you haven't entered my giveaway please click here


xo,
Sherry

One World One Heart & Door Prize

Thank you so much for dropping by today and for participating in  One World One Heart  sponsored by A Whimsical Bohemian. " One World One Heart is a worldwide event for bloggers. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world. In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way. Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home........going from blog to blog (in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes"....just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world. It's really that easy."






Let me introduce myself to those of you that are reading my blog for the first time.


Hi,  My name is Sherry.


I am a daughter, wife, mother and grandmother

I am married to the love of my life.

There are five of the most adorable children that call me Grandma.

I am a true Southern girl...yes, I love grits and boiled peanuts.

 Give me eighty degrees and the beach any day. I hate cold weather.


 My dad was an antique dealer and I grew up going to flea markets and antique shows.
Antiquing is in my blood and I followed my dad's footsteps.


Decorating our home is a passion for me.

When I am not blogging, or moving things around in the house, I enjoy golf,  hiking, scuba diving
and of course antiquing and junking for that perfect treasure


Please take a look around . My hope is that you like what you see and will come back to visit again.  While you are here please enter my  giveaway.


My gift to one lucky winner is both Rachel Ashwell books.



The rules are simple:


Leave me a comment on this post.
Open worldwide.
Giveaway ends at midnight on 2/17/11.





Check out the list of other participants and their giveaways at  A Whimsical Bohemian.   I would love to visit you so please be sure to leave your blogs URL in the comments.

Hugs,
Sherry

Paris Pillow

Hello Friends!  Steve and I took a little trip last Thursday to Maryland to do some antiquing.  On the way we stopped at  Lucketts Store which is one of my favorite shops.  Miss Mustard Seed  sells some of her wonderful creations at Lucketts.  Friday morning we woke up to snow but that didn't stop us from heading to Chartreuse & Co.  for their once a month barn sale.  Before heading home we stopped at a couple of antique malls in downtown Frederick.  It was a fun couple of days and it was nice to get away together.

I bought a few things on this trip that I will be posting at a later time. I did want to show you a pillow I bought at Chartreuse.













Isn't she lovely?  You can see more pictures of our bedroom and sitting room here. 


I also have a long overdue thank you to  Lindy @ Cottage Hill  for these fabulous stockings I won in her giveaway last month.







Thank you Lindy!!


The crown is actually a tree topper that I bought at an after Christmas sale for 80% off! 
I also wanted to say thanks to Rachael @ Lovely Crafty Home  and Mona @  Providence Ltd  who both passed the Stylish Blogger award on to me.  I will be back later to list the seven things you may not know about me and to pass the award on.


Thank you for stopping by and I enjoy reading all your comments.


I'll be joining the parties at:
Romantic Home 
French Country Cottage 
Savvy Southern Style 
Sue Loves Cherries 
How Sweet The Sound


xo,
Sherry

DIY French Anduze Pot

Hello Everyone!  Thank you so much for all the sweet comments on my win  at Whisper Wood Cottage. 

The weather has been so crummy here in Virginia that it has kept me inside to work on some long over-due projects.  I bought two Anduze style terracotta pots at a garage sale last year for fifty cents each!  The original pots were made in the village of Anduze in France's Gard region.  They are round pots and decorated with a swag of garland.  Orange and lemon trees are normally planted in these pots so they can be moved inside in the case of frost.

Most Anduze pots are solid colors of blue, green or mustard. When we were in France I fell in love with the ones that were terracotta on the bottom and painted with drips on the top half.  These are painted similar to Confit pots.


Here is one of my fifty cent pots ready for transformation. Plain terracotta with gold on the garland.





See the swag of garland?  It was a nice pot to start with and was stamped in the clay "France" and another word that appears to say "Stuio". 


Last summer Marty at  A Stroll Thru Life  showed how she transformed her Chinese stool with spray paint and stain.  I loved this look and decided to try it on my faux Anduze pot.
Here I am experimenting with using white board with my photographs.







I applied two coats of spray paint and sprayed heavier on certain areas to get the drips. Once the spray paint was dry I added Provincial stain to the entire pot wiping off certain areas for a lighter look.  When dry I sanded some of the raised areas lightly for a distressed look. The final step was spraying the pot with Krylon Glaze finish.


A very simple process and I love the finished pot.


Check back here on January 30 for my giveaway and many more at  One World One Heart.


I'll be joining the following parties:


Between Naps On The Porch 
Coastal Charm 
Savvy Southern Style 
The Shabby Chic Cottage 
My Romantic Home 
Funky Junk Interiors 


Hugs,
Sherry

Do You Know About NOVICA?

I was recently contacted by a representative of  NOVICA  asking if I would like to do a review to help promote their artisans.  After checking out their website I did not hesitate to say yes.

NOVICA  is one of the leading fair trade artisans websites and they work with National Geographic to give artisans around the world a place to showcase their craft and provide access to the world market.  Many of these artisans live in remote areas where there is no outlet to sell their crafts.  NOVICA's  on-line shop helps bring these beautiful handcrafted creations to collectors worldwide.  The website has thousands of fair trade corporate gifts,  home decor and gorgeous jewelry items.


For my gift I chose this beautiful hand woven alpaca scarf  from the Andes.  With each order comes a handwritten note from the artist as well as a artist story card.  Alfredo Falcon created this scarf and below is an excerpt from his biography.

 "I was born in the capital of Peru on August 7, 1968. When I was but a small child I learned from my parents the best weaving techniques – like me, they had learned them from their own parents. This makes us a family entirely devoted to the world of textiles, and we have been for generations."







I also chose this unique sterling ring crafted in Bali by the artist Buana..  The Face Of The Moon ring is carved from cow bone and the workmanship is amazing.  Sorry about the quality of this photo.  Here is a little more information on Buana.

" In 1990, Buana decided to learn to craft silver jewelry from a friend in Celuk. He learned it all, from the very basic skills like sanding, polishing and making plates to very advanced techniques. Supported by his family, Buana has continued his profession as silversmith. "I am thankful to God for giving me such a great gift so I can make a living for my family. Not much, perhaps, but enough for our simple way of life," he says. "Hopefully through Novica I can offer a better future to my wife and two children."

Thank you  NOVICA for your generosity!  Both items I received are of the highest quality.  The customer service was fabulous and shipping was quick.   I do hope you will visit this website to see all the beautiful handcrafted items they sell.


Corporate Gifts
Eco Friendly Gifts
Unique Gifts
Microfinance

Hugs,
Sherry



I was given these items in exchange for reviewing the products.  My opinions are those of my own and were not influenced by receiving these gifts.

I Won..Need Your Advise.

Hello everyone.  I got the exciting news that I was the Grand Prize Winner of  WhisperWood Cottage  2011 1st project of the year party!  The winning entry was my  spackled candlestick  project shown below.






As the winner my prizes are:


One year subscription to Cottages and Bungalow Magazine
Four gallons of Dutch Boy paint
Six cans Krylon spray paint
One prep tool and paint brush kit from Purdy.


How great is this?  Now, this is where I need your help. I would love a pretty soft white wall paint from Dutch Boy.  Something with no yellow undertones and not a stark white.  I haven't decided which rooms to paint yet but I am leaning toward the living room. This room gets lots of light from four windows. 


I know many of you are paint experts so any help is appreciated.  Even if you haven't used Dutch Boy, but have a white paint you love, please let me know. Maybe I can get a similar color. 


Any Suggestions?


Thanks,
Sherry

CSN And Reminder

I never thought a little bit of spackel would be worthy of all your kind comments.  Thank you so much!!

Everyone in blogland knows about CSN Stores and what an amazing array of products they offer.  I have been looking for rugs on-line and they carry a large assortment to choose from.  I have found everything from modern rugs, traditional and somewhat quirky rugs.  Below are some of my favorite.



You know how much I love transferware.  It covers my walls, armoire and buffet. With this rug I could add transferware to the floor! 



The colors in this rug are beautiful. 



This coral rug would be fabulous in a beach home. Just imagine white slip covered furniture and this rug.



Another of my favorite.



I think this one would look great in my office. Cover the settee with grain sack pillows and it would make quite a statement.


What's your favorite rug in your home?  


Just a reminder about the  One World One Heart Event  starting on 1/30/11.  Each participant will be offering door prizes that you can enter to win.  Last year there were over 1000 participants worldwide. Plan on stopping by my blog on 1/30/11 to see what I will be giving away.


Thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
Sherry

Wonders Of Spackle.

Thank you everyone for all the sweet comments you left on my Pottery Barn inspired  lazy susan project.  I was just blown away by your kindness.

This is another project I did the same day as the lazy susan.  I had this pair of altar candlesticks in my shop for six months and they never sold. When I bought them I really did not like the gold finish but I left them alone thinking someone else might like it.  Here is one of the candlesticks in all its golden glory.





I wanted a chippy plaster look so I pulled out the wall spackle paste. You may remember the lamp I used a similar technique on.  This is such an easy project but it makes quite a transformation.


First add spackle to the candlesticks covering as much as you want of the old finish.  I found it was easiest to apply this with slightly damp fingers.  You don't have to be careful here. Some areas I did a light coat and others I just globbed it on.  When dry take sandpaper and lightly sand the areas that look too rough.


  The next step is to add glaze. I used Ralph Lauren Smoke because I always have this around. Lightly apply the glaze and wipe off until you get the look you want. Finish the candlesticks with a coat of spray varnish or polyacrylic.


Here are the new improved candlesticks.





In person they do look like chippy plaster.
Here's a close-up.





You can see I left a little of the gold peeking through. I have them sitting on my $6.00 thrift store silver tray.







Decided I like them better on the buffet.  Now I am debating whether to take them back to the shop or not.


I also want to show you a great project I found while browsing through other blogs.  Heather at  Dollar Store Crafts made the most adorable chandelier from Christmas beads bought at the dollar store. You have to check this out and see some of her other thrifty projects.







Thanks Heather for letting me share this!


I am joining the parties at :





Funky Junk Interiors 
Whisper Wood Cottage 
Between Naps On The Porch 
Savvy Southern Style 
A Stroll Thru Life 
Coastal Charm 
Faded Charm






Thanks for your visit!
Hugs,
Sherry

Pottery Barn Inspired

Last year I was in Pottery Barn and saw a wine barrel lazy susan that I liked.  What I didn't like was the $129 price tag!   Here is my inspiration for this project.


I put the project in the back of my mind until recently when I found a lazy susan in a junk shop.  







I paid my $1.00 and headed home with this beauty.  Well, I hoped she would turn into a beauty with a little pampering. 


 The piece was stained an ugly orange color so the first thing I did was lightly sand it. I wanted the look of planks of wood so I took a pen and ruler and drew lines in the wood. The wood was soft enough that by pressing hard the pen made a groove.   I then applied a coat of stain and wiped off gently leaving more color in certain areas . This was a big improvement on it's own.


The more I looked at the PB version I felt the design was a little plain for me. I found an image I liked at  The Graphics Fairy  and made a copy enlarging it to the size I wanted.




Using carbon paper I just traced the design.  I created the additional wording in Microsoft's Word and then followed the same process.  Then it is as easy as painting in the design with a black paint pen.  The lazy susan was lightly distressed with sandpaper and finished with a clear coat of spray varnish.  I used the same technique making the Antiquities sign shown here
.


Here is the finished project...



And a close up





  I already had all the materials I used left over from other projects.


  The total cost of my lazy susan was $1.00!    


PB you know I love ya...but I like my version better and it cost $128 less than yours. Don't feel bad because you'll end up with some of the money I saved.  I just ordered two lanterns from you. Of course I am known for being rather thrifty so I waited until they were 75% off. 


Thanks for the inspiration Pottery Barn!


I am joining the parties at:
WhisperWood Cottage 
Savvy Southern Style
Shabby Nest 
Life As Lori 
The Shabby Chic Cottage 
Somewhat Simple 
Funky Junk Interiors 
Between Naps On The Porch


Hugs,
Sherry

French Bottle Drying Rack

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments you left when I told you I wasn't feeling well.  I think I am on the mend now.  Today is the first day I have felt well enough to take pictures and post about another of my Christmas gifts.

I have been in love with the French zinc bottle racks for such a long time.  You can see here where I did a post about the antique ones I found on our trip to Destin last year. I would have loved to bring one of those home on the plane but I knew Delta was not about to allow that...they even confiscated my weapon  lipstick one time!  The price tags of $500 and up also stopped me in my tracks. Sigh!

Did you know these racks were originally used in French wineries to dry the bottles on?  You can still find them in French homes hidden in the basements where they are holding cleaned wine bottles.





I am always telling you what a sweet husband I have.  Remember the sterling vanity clothes brush  he surprised me with for Christmas?  Well, I had left him subtle hints about a bottle rack...the link to LaurieAnne's Vintage Home on-line store and the words I WANT THIS typed in bold print!   I am so happy he got the hint because the bottle rack looks great on our kitchen counter.



I have added my collection of ironstone cream pitchers and now I am on the search for a few more.


 
Of course I had to take a picture from the other side.


I also want to show you the sweet gift I won from Shell at  Bungalow Bling.  This is just the most adorable little top hat headband. She also included a darling paper stocking that she made . The pictures don't really show how precious it is in person.
 




Thank you Shell!


I'll be joining the parties at :


A Stroll Thru Life 
Faded Charm 
Colorado lady 
Common Ground 
Romantic Home


Thanks for dropping by!


Hugs,
Sherry

One World One Heart Event

I am so sorry I haven't been around much lately.  I know I am really behind in answering your emails and comments.  Hubby and I have both been down with the flu.  I just woke up from sleeping eighteen hours straight.  That NyQuil is some great stuff...knocked me out good.  Before I go back to bed I did want to mention a blogging event that I found.

Have you heard about the One World One Heart event starting on January 30th?  I borrowed the info below from the sponsor A Whimsical Bohemian.  It sounds like a great way to "meet" new bloggers and to introduce your blog worldwide. 

"One World One Heart is a worldwide event for bloggers only. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world. In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way. Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home........going from blog to blog(in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes"....just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world. It's really that easy."





Visit  A Whimsical Bohemian  for more info.


Hugs,
Sherry









A Special Gift

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years! 
 Ours started out a little wonky
 with a broken furnace and no heat on the first floor.
  Aren't furnaces suppose to last more than four years??
  Thank goodness for warranties...though that's not keeping us warm while we wait for parts.
  Also, I was on my way to do some marathon shopping and my car battery died. 
  Seventy seven dollars of my shopping money went to a new battery!


Happy New Years To Us!!


We have so much to grateful for this year.
A little bit of a rough start won't damper my spirits!!


You may remember I recently hosted a giveaway sponsored by my good friend Mona at 
 Providence Ltd Design. to celebrate the grand opening of her new on-line shop. 
 Mona donated a beautiful vintage necklace for me to giveaway on my blog. 


I have wanted a vintage breadboard for the longest time and Mona had one for sale in her shop. 
 I was so excited to finally find one and I ordered it right away.
Imagine my surprise when she told me this wonderful piece would be a gift from her.
  This is just more evidence of how very kind and generous our family of bloggers are.


Thank you Mona for this wonderful gift and for your friendship and support this past year.





Isn't the breadboard wonderful?  I am displaying it in an antique artillery basket I already owned.
 I must admit I got this idea from Marci at  Antique Chase. 
 When I saw the picture of her boards displayed this way I just fell in love! 


I am on my way to sit in front of the fireplace and stay warm. 
 Have a great week.
xo,
Sherry


I am joining the parties at :
My Romantic Home
French Country Cottage
Common Ground