Chandelier Makeover with Spray Paint

I have wanted to do a chandelier makeover with spray paint for some time.  Our chandelier is brass with black accents.  It came with the house and I’ve never liked it.  Some time ago I saw Candice Olson on her HGTV show do a chandelier makeover with white spray paint and it was gorgeous, so I decided that’s what I wanted to do.

 The candles and part of the upper center was black  which made it even darker, but I had already painted them before I took this photo.  It has beautiful crystals on it that really sparkle when it is lit up.

 Last weekend I finally got around to doing my chandelier makeover with spray paint.  Do you ever have a idea for a project  and it takes you forever before you actually do it, and when you finally do,  it takes much less time than you thought it would?

On the HGTV show she covered every crystal with foil and then spray painted it while it was hanging from the ceiling.  I have no idea how she ever sprayed it without getting spray throughout the entire room!  I took off all the crystals first. Fortunately  I took a “before” picture  or I wouldn’t have know which crystals went where when I went to put them back on.  Anyhow, I took off the crystals and cleaned them while my husband disconnected the wires.  The only tricky part was finding a place to hang it while I spray painted it.  The hook for the  bird feeder in our backyard worked just fine.

I used Rustoleum gloss white.  This picture isn’t very good.  I need a new camera.  Maybe my husband will read this 

                                                            I love how it turned out.

                                                        It really sparkles when it’s lit up!

You might have noticed there are a few patches of different color paint on the walls.  I was trying to decide between a pale blue or white. I like the look of the living room all white so I think the dining room is going be white too.  As soon as I get the dining room walls painted my spray painted chandelier will look enter better and sparkle even more!

But I have a wedding dress to make for my daughter so all painting  is on hold until I get that finished!

Before I go I just want to encourage you that if there is a small project around your home that you’ve planned to do and haven’t yet, maybe you should just do it.  I’m glad I finally did!

Rhondi xo

Becoming Conference and Two Favorite Bloggers

I recently went to the  Becoming Conference and met two favorite bloggers. Do you ever wish you could meet some of the bloggers who you read all the time?  Well about  a month ago, I got to do that at the Becoming Conference   It was a wonderful conference set in the mountains of North Carolina near Asheville.  It was hosted by Jenny from  Southern Savers and Jen of Balancing Beauty and Bedlam .  I think this is the 3rd year they have had it.

Becoming…creative, purposeful, frugal.  That is the name of the conference.   The cost was very inexpensive and it  was on Friday evening and all day Saturday   There were lots of great tips from lots of bloggers on being “becoming” creative , purposeful and frugal.

There were so many great speakers, all bloggers.  Two of my favorites were there so I just had to get a picture.  Here I am with Edie of Life in Grace.  Edie  and Ruth Soukup of Living Well Spending Less did a session on HOSPITALITY.

Edie said

“HOSPITALITY is not about inviting people into your perfect home, but inviting people into our imperfect hearts”

and ” making our homes beautiful is important because the world is a harsh place.”  



Here I am with Angela of  Button Bird Designs.  Angela’s enthusiasm and creativity are contagious.  I think that just standing next to her makes you more creative!  She had lots of fun ideas on how to stir up your creativity and she brought lots of her art with her.

Both of these girls were just as genuine and delightful as I expected them to be and I am so glad I had the chance to meet them.  Next year I plan to go to the  Becoming Conference again.  Maybe I will see you there!

Rhondi xo

Painted Furniture With Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I’ve always liked the look of painted furniture and one of the things I love is bringing an old piece of furniture back to life.

I found this dresser at our local Salvation Army store.  I have been looking for something like this at garage sales thrift shops and craigslist for awhile.   Most of the furniture at the Salvation Army these days is way overpriced. So earlier this week when I was at our local SA, and saw this for $80, I grabbed it.  It has nice clean lines and I knew it was the perfect piece to use my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint  on.

Lots of nice details to distress.

                                                                     Very nice drawer pulls.

                                                                    No need to replace these.

 Here is the finished piece in our newly painted and stenciled front hall.  More about that in another post.

The top was in good condition so I left it alone and used Annie Sloan  Louis Blue on the rest.  If there is anyone reading this who still hasn’t tried this paint, you are missing a treat.  No sanding or priming!  You just slap it on.  

                                                    The details on it were perfect for distressing

 I haven’t waxed it yet but  I was anxious to see how it would look so I put all the drawer handles on and will have to take them off when I get ready to wax it!

 I am really happy about how well it turned out. Next time I’ll show you more about the stenciling in the front hall.  As soon as I get everything painted you are invited for tea.

I am joining Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday

Rhondi xo

Say Goodbye to Messy Paint Cans DIY Paint tip

I have a great DIY paint tip for you on how to keep all that drippy mess off the side of your paint can, say goodbye to messy paint cans.  Let me show you  my latest project, which is how I discovered it.

Like many of you, I love to putter around my house,rearrange things, find treasures while I’m out thrifting and then find a place for them in my house.    I haven’t repainted the walls very often  because we usually end up moving before they need to be painted or before I tire of the color!  The longest we have ever lived in a house is 5 years, so I have the fun of a new paint when we moved.

We have been here for 9 years,which is a record for us and we don’t plan to move in the next year so I decided it’s time to repaint.  I have loved this soft yellow we’ve had, but it’s time for a change.  This is our front hall/foyer.

I have to tell you that I am the world’s sloppiest painter.  The walls always look good, but I get paint everywhere.   While I was in Home Depot last week,  waiting for the kind lady to shake up the paint, I noticed this.   It was under $3.00.

Oh my goodness, this is the best thing since sliced bread! If you haven’t used it before you are going to love it!!  You just take the paint lid off and put this on.

I poured the paint into my roller tray and this is the only drip I got.

When I finished I just folded the spout down and it seals the lid.  When I need it again I can shake the can or remove the lid and stir.  So easy!

The paint can on the left is how my paint usually looks when I’ve finished a job.   The one on the right is with using the SHUR LINE spout.

I painted the walls pure white, no tint added. Already the room looks so much brighter.

I bought a stencil from A C Moore, used my 40% off coupon.  I decided to do the stencil pattern in blue.  If you know me you aren’t surprised. Before I started I tried couple of samples to see what color blue to use and decided on a medium blue.

Here it is at the beginning of the project.

Did I tell you my daughter is getting married in 6 weeks and I am making her dress which I haven’t even started yet?   Not such a good time to be repainting my house, you say?  The wedding is going to be out of town so I’m not even doing it to look nice for the wedding guests who might come by.  But when I have an idea I want to do it right away, so I just did! Call me crazy.

My living and dining room are getting a facelift too. I will show you more as I go along.

Rhondi xo

*my opinion about the SHUR LINE product was not endorsed by the company.  I just wanted to tell you about a great product I found.

Sewing a Brown and White Slipcover Mistake

The slipcovers on my wing chairs were so worn out and I really needed to do something about it.   So I found some fabric which really looked nice and it happened to be on sale.
I got them finished in only 3 days.   They look great!  What I didn’t know was that I was sewing a brown  slipcover mistake

                                                                      Didn’t they turn out nice?

I hate them!  What was I thinking?

I don’t like brown.  I like blue and white, yellow, red, green.

But I thought maybe if I just rearranged other things in the room, added a few other things that would fit in, I might like it better.   Nope.  I still hate it.  So as soon as I find something better these will be replaced.  I’m glad the fabric was on sale so I didn’t waste too much money!

I also bought some brown and white chevron for the dining room chairs.  Chevron is so in style.  My 31 year old daughter loved it.  I got halfway through and quit.  I didn’t like it either

All in all it’s a big brown and white mistake!  I don’t even like brown 

Have you ever done something like that?

Rhondi xo

Have you ever done something like that?

Rhondi

Thankful Thursday

When I was posting consistently Thursday was my day to take time to be thankful: Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful that my daughter has met a wonderful Christian young man and is getting married in October.  The celebrations began on Saturday with an engagement party we had at our home.

What are you thankful for on this thankful Thursday?

Rhondi xo

Blue and White Quilts

Blue and white quilts again?  Can’t help myself.

Good morning dear friends

Ever since I decided to begin blogging again I have had the hardest time in being consistent with it.  So here I am again.  I finished a couple of sewing projects that I want to show you.

This first one is made with hexagons.  It is all hand sewn and took quite awhile, but I really enjoy hand sewing.  There is something about sewing by hand that is so relaxing.  I think it must cause the brain to go into a different rhythm or something.  I thought I might make a quilt but after sewing  lots of hexies, decided to cover a pillow instead.

           
           Now where to put it?  On the porch would be nice but don’t want to expose it to the elements.

                                                                   Maybe on my chaise lounge…

                                                            Or on the chair in my sunroom..

The other thing I have been working on is this quilt.  The pattern is called Irish Chain.  So simple and classic.

I wonder if you are thinking ” Enough blue and white!”  I probably have way too much of it.  I have made lots of quilts in different colors.  I’ll do  a photo gallery of all of them sometime, but I always come back to my favorite blue and white.

Do you have a favorite color combination that as much as you try to do something different , you always return to?

Rhondi xo

Joining Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House