It has certainly been a while…

…since I posted a home project.

This one has been in the works for quite some time.

It has been on my to-do list for over 6 months.

The problems:

1.  I really needed my husbands help to get it hung, and he hasn’t had a free minute.

2.  I needed more money to be able to complete the second part.

You see.

We have a kitchen bar that I really wanted bar stools at.  Those are so expensive.

Along with the bar stools, I wanted my own little version of one of these, hanging above the bar:

I spotted this rustic ladder in Pottery Barn at Christmas time last year and fell in love.  The one I saw was different from this.  It hung over a festive dining table, and was beautiful.

Not long after I fell in love with the ladder, I found a beat up old trellis at an Antique shop and knew that it was exactly how I wanted to recreate it.

So my hubby surprised me one day, and helped to cross one thing of my honey-do list.

I loved it, but I was not prepared to hang items from it.  That is why it has taken me so long to post it.  I have been playing with it for a month.  Now, it is perfect.  It was on my list, but I hadn’t quite figured out what I was doing with it.

The one I saw in PB had these amazing green balls hanging from it.  I snatched up some of those earlier in the year.  I was prepared with that, but what else?

I thought I might do some sort of lights. 

I tried them for a few weeks, but the cords began to bug me.

My kids loved them.

Greenery is just to much right not, but I plan to use some at Christmas, and will add lights then.

I knew I wanted some fun lanterns, but they could not be to heavy or expensive.

Then I found these.  I love them.

Just what I was looking for.

After Jonathan got it hung, I wanted bar stools more then ever.  I knew that I would have to save my dough.

The day after he hung the “chandelier", I ran in to these little beauties at a thrift store.  I knew that I had to have them.

I have noticed in home decorating magazines that more and more people are using unique metal framed bar stools. 

I knew that these would be the perfect addition.

Plus, they were the right price.  $10.00 for both.

I am so glad that I did not just buy the run of the mill bar stools.

They are a big conversation piece, and very unique.

We have enjoyed using them.

I love looking over my bar, and seeing this great shabby chandelier. It makes the space so much more lively.

As for home projects, I think I am done.  No more on my list; FOR NOW.

I have to cross scrapbooks off my list.  I really need to sit down and create those.

I am leaving you with a little view of my entry way.  I added just a few Holiday touches. 

I love the fourth of July.

America is such an amazing place to live.

After living out of the country, I can truly say that we are so blessed.

Glass Anyone?

I love decorating with any thing glass.  All things glass are just pretty.  If you are looking for a few pieces to buy that are timeless;  Glass would have to be it.

See what you can do with Glass Apothecary Jars:

and how easy they are to change out:

Glass Vases are a must have.  I find some of my favorites at the dollar store.  This little number that held the candy canes came from there.

...and then it got to hold more sweets for Valentines day:

You can't forget the options you have when Halloween comes around:

I am also a lover of Milk Glass.  You have seen my small collection of milk glass:(I wish I had more)

and what you can do with it:

   

I also have these milk glass lamps in the Girls room.

I had a hard time finding lamp shades that would fit these old souls.  What I found just was not my favorite.  I spruced them up a little this week. What do you think?

Ribbon, my sewing machine, a few ruffles, and hot glue.  Waa-laa!!

I love my milk glass lamps even more.

I also think glass cake stands are a must have.  You can do so much them.  For example:

You can use it to decorate with or...

to adorn your counter with a sweet little treat.

I also have a collection of glass candlesticks.

On special occasions I take them out of my room to adorn our table:

Now, I have to share my latest addition to my glass collection.

These items were given to me by a friend who noticed my milk glass.

I almost cried when she gave me these:

These are depression glass.  They look so beautiful in the girls room.

I used those 3M velcro tabs to hang them on the wall.  It was so simple and sturdy.

She also gave me these:

I can't wait to use them for taco night.

They  look so cute on my counter.

When thinking about items to buy for your home.  Think Glass.  It has so many uses, and always looks so pretty.  It adds a glamour effect to almost anything, but it almost always has a practical use as well.

What have I been up to?

What do you think I have been up to?  Decorating my house of course. 

Actually, I just had   to add my new treasures to the mix.  You see, the Moes's came for a visit, and I just had to take Krysta antiquing.

We used to take trips to Mckinney, Texas once a year for just that sort of thing.  That was what seems like a lifetime ago;  that was pre-eight children.

Now that I live in what seems to be the antique capitol of the world, I was able to take her to some of my favorite spots.  Actually, one spot; I have many, but we spent five hours in one store and still didn't make it all the way through.

We have the same taste in so many ways, so it was like two sets of eyes.  She found so many things for me that I probably would have not spotted, and vise versa.

Are you ready to see the finds?

Needed some Color and Whimsy

Adorable Cherry Plates... These are my new inspiration for the laundry room.  I want to make some polka dotted curtains for my pantry now.  The basket is also a find.  I added a tag with a No.6(inspiration Pottery Barn, and the six is for how many is in our family), and then a few magazines.  It will also house anything that needs to go somewhere. ie: library books.  This room is still a work in progress.

Liven things up with photos

This entire wall is full of new finds.  I didn't replace anything in my house, I just added this to an empty wall in the Master.  I also plan to add more photos.

They are attached with clips, and ribbon.

Accessorize

I have been wanting to accessorize my picture wall, so when I stumbled upon this clock and pear I knew I had to have them.  Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference.

Two for the price of one.

I love anything that you can use for decorating, but I also like to have neat little trays for party hosting. This little platter will work both ways.  I believe it used to be used for sewing, but now it is my new party platter.  Can't you just picture this with treats on it?

Oh, and the silly little bird you ask?  $2.00, and I just had to have her.  Her name is Gertrude, and she makes me smile.

Can you say BLING?

You see that lamp?  Yes, I am the proud owner of this unique little piece.  I just had to have it.  I have been wanting a glass lamp, and had planned on the ones that are everywhere.  When I saw this I knew that this would be one of those special finds.

You see that reflection.  Isn't it to die for?  You should see it at night?

Isn't it magical? It looks so nice next to my glass candlesticks, and vintage mirror.

A new home

This was on the wall where my new cherry plates hang.  This is it's new home.  Isn't it fun?

Memory Keeper

Not only is this little filing cabinet so adorable, but it holds some of our family treasures; our memories. We are using it to record some of the little everyday events.

{I have an index card for every day of the year.  Each night at dinner we write down something that happened that day.  Then we place it back in the filing drawer.  Next year on that day when we pull out the card we will read what we wrote, and add to it.}

ie: January 24th: We blessed Tessa today.

This is the perfect little family journal.  It is so simple. 

The drawers make it even more fun.

Antiquing is all about the hunt, and the price.

Isn't Antiquing great? Take the time to check out your local antique stores.  You never know what you might find.

It is even more fun when you do it with your best friend.

Simply Mom, Shabby Designer

After I had Jex, I struggled with not losing myself as a person. I have always made an effort to still find time for things that I love. I have always had a passion for creativity. My mind is always dreaming in fabric, and paint swatches. Even as a child growing up I loved to move furniture in my room, and paint crafts. As an adult, my wonderful friend Krysta helped me develop an even greater love for decorating.

This is how I make time for me, "by making life look pretty." It can be with fashion, jewelry, home accessories, scrapbooking, photography... and on and on. I know that all of you have something in your life, that you just love to do. It may be exercise, cooking, reading, sewing, or just anything that makes you smile. I have discovered through experience that we can all learn from each other. I have valued the "teaching moments" that I have from all of my friends who are good or have a passion for things in their life. Some of these talents, I try and I do not enjoy. Others, I have really enjoyed. I have learned so many things from wonderful people. I am thankful for the gifts, talents and passions that Heavenly Father gives us, because I have been privileged to learn so much from others.

From those experiences of growth, I have learned how important it is to share our experiences and knowledge with others. Jonathan has been prodding me to share some of my creative juices on our blog. I think I have finally succumbed, and decided that it just might be fun.

So... on occasion (when I come up with something), I will share some fun ideas about, "making life pretty." Jonathan and I have always lived on a budget, so these ideas will be cheap, and may inspire some of you to do something fun like this in your life. This is the reason for the title Shabby Designer. Most everything I have is a hand me down, is on a major sale, or something I found for free on the side of the road. Then I use my creativity to refurbish this, and "make it pretty."

I hope as I share these ideas you can find something just laying around that you can reuse in your own life. This is just a fun way to inspire you. I also hope this entry inspires you to find time to do something that you enjoy, and then share it with others.

DISCLAIMER: I do not profess to be an expert, nor have I ever taken any design classes. I am just sharing what I love, and what works for me. My motto is: it is not good design if YOU don't love it, and the only rule for design (by my handbook) is if you love it then use it. After all, my design style is called skitsophrenic, and I think it works because I love everything in my space.

Here is my SIMPLE idea for today:

Need to brighten up a space or a room.... add some flowers.


Flowers can add so much liveliness to a room. I had this empty space to fill, and I knew it needed some flowers. The color of the flowers is not matchy matchy to what I have going on in the room, but it is in the same tones. They are a nice green color, just a smidge brighter then my wall.

What makes this a cheap addition is that I already had the vase, and I bought the flowers at Hobby Lobby when they were 1/2 off. That made them $3 a bunch. I used 2 bunches. What a deal, and look at the impact it made. They make me smile every time I look at them.

I also decided it would be fun to carry them around the room a bit. So I took 3 of the flowers out of the bunch, and added them to these 3 small vases. I bought these at Walmart in the pack of 3 for $3. I also thought outside the box, by putting them on our bar. It gives a nice look to a rather overlooked place. So for $3, I carried the look around the room, and brightened up my bar.(you can also buy something called Crystal Water that looks like real water in the bottom of the vase, I did this for added effect... it is not necessary) Crystal Water gels up and will not spill. It also secures the flower in place. This will add about $12 to your project, but if you used your coupon at Hobby Lobby it would save you about $5. It was enough to do both flower projects.

One more tip on Brightening up your space:

I have this fun bookshelf in our house, but it was so boring. I scrounged around the house for some nice things I could add to bring in some color. I had the red picture frame, and I added a fun piece of scrapbook paper inside to add some fun dimension. On the top of the book shelf, I moved some candlesticks that I had in another space, and then gave new life to a pot. This pot had some greenery in it that was just done. My friend Krysta gave me the pot. It was free, and I just bought a $3 bush, and replaced it. The green really adds to the space, and actually gives the big wall some nice color. The vase with the pears in it was $1.50. I bought the pears from my favorite Hobby Lobby. They came in a pack, and of course were 50% off. Then I filled the vase that I already had. These simple tricks brought new life to my rather boring bookshelf, and it only cost me $4.50.

I hope this inspires you to find a place to add a splash of color, by using flowers. You can never go wrong with a nice vase of flowers.

HINT: Don't buy cheap flowers from a $$$ store or Walmart. Invest in some nice ones. They go 50% off all the time at Hobby Lobby. Believe me it is worth it. Also, if you do not have vases lying around like I did then check out the $$$ store or thrift stores.