Winsome Cottage

I love this photo....it pretty much sums up the feeling of being in the shop where we have been blessed to have the opportunity to sell our things...

 And that feeling definitely comes from a very sweet couple---they are special people and that comes across in their shop....

 I took the coffee table to her along with some pillow slips and decided to take along the camera and practice taking some photos...

 This is the "industrial chic" window....the window/table (on the far right) is something my husband made from a window they bought somewhere....

 Lot's of beautiful things to look at...and good company too....

 And lovely vintage pieces mixed in with solid, old furniture that's been given a second chance....

 There is something really wonderful about second chances don't you think????  Everybody needs one...

 This couple is doing what they love and it shows....

 Now some exciting opportunities for the future! 

 The Annie Sloan's Chalk paint is on the shelves...

 Literally on this piece 

But here too....I love to learn new things....just so many people out there with lots of knowledge and skill who are willing to share what they know.  

So it will be fun to try something new and see what new ideas come into my head...who knows...

Never dreamed we'd be where we are --creating, and working together.  Getting an opportunity to take the ideas in our heads and make them a reality....

Random....

Thinking about colors for the living room...

I'm really leaning towards the "Silver Birch" in the very back.....

I look at photos of the "all white" look in magazines and online and I like it; but I'm not sure about living in it....

My second choice would be the "Crisp Linen" except that it's similar to what we already have....

 We really need a new front door...and have for awhile.  So I'm waiting to get that done before I paint but it takes me awhile to decide on the color thing....

 I'd love to get rid of the ceiling fan and the brass fireplace insert :)  We just rearranged because we put Doodlebug's bed up on the loft so he could play under it.  So the piece the TV is sitting on had to come out of their room....one thing leads to the next when you have a small house....

 A couple of new pillow shams for Winsome...

 I like this one but it took some time....

 Proof that I wasn't kidding about the tape obsession :) This is actually a mild "restoration".  He's been on a mission to fix all of his broken airplanes using tape....I love being a mom...

  This is about the only snow we've had...

 Our back sidewalk....mostly a solid sheet of ice....

 He was totally fascinated by the leather gloves staining his hands....ahhh to be 4 again....

Hand forged coat hooks

My husband....

I love him....

we are so meant to be together!!!  I love spending time with him and being creative together.

He's been firing up the forge here and there....

 So I requested some coat hooks....there are endless possibilities for these....

It's actually been colder here lately so we haven't been outside as much....

But the other day he and Doodlebug went out for awhile and he came in with these.

I want a whole slew of them!!!  Actually there are a couple of other "shapes" or styles I'd like him to try too

...more to come!!!

Coffee table before and after

 Since the weather turned colder we haven't been able to use our "workshop" also known as our garage....so we've had this little lady for awhile

 She's been waiting in the wings to get a make-over...

 now that the Holidays are over we're getting back into the swing of doing things for Winsome Cottage....

 She is *very* girly...

 She got cleaned up, painted, distressed and waxed...

 So she's ready to go home with someone and start her "new" life!!!

Here she was before.  The trim needed a little TLC...

I wiped her down with liquid sandpaper/ deglosser

 She got several coats of Valspar's "Fresh Cotton"...

 After letting her dry a little I used 220 grit sandpaper to distress the bumps and edges.

 Then I used the minwax in a thin coat with a little dark brown paint to tint it....after that dries I buff it really well with a clean, dry cloth...

I love the finish that the wax gives...and I love watching a piece change from start to finish....

Winsome Cottage is now stocking Annie Sloan's chalk paint...oh yes....and there are workshops coming soon!!!  I can't wait to get my hands on some and try it out....I'll keep you posted!

Flea market treasures repurposed

 This is a new bracelet I made for my Aunt...it didn't come from the flea market :) but the feed sack underneath it did!

 There is just something about vintage fabrics and linens that always catches my eye....

 So I spied this basket in the corner of a booth with all these neatly folded kitchen towels that were just lovely and faded but underneath them....

 This little stack of treasures...8 to be exact.

 The best part was the price--- other than ebay I'm having a hard time even finding them.

 I actually paid $10 for the last one I bought...

And I'm thinking about how I want to use them...haven't decided on that yet but my brain will be working on it for awhile... 

I did decide that this one would be a great hamper for the kids' room.

  I'm thinking about sewing a piece of twine to it to hang it but I haven't decided...

 I have been on a total tear cleaning and sorting and rearranging since the new year.  And this was my next little treasure.

 It's a frog...for arranging flowers.  Only right now I'll be using it to store my make-up brushes & all those little goodies that end up at the bottom of the make-up bag.  I'm thinking it might eventually go on my worktable to organize pens and pencils and scissors...

 Actually I have some other ideas I could use it for too, but I'm turning my brain off on this one for now!  I love the green chippy paint on the metal....

 And Doodlebug is totally OBSESSED with tape right now...I think we've gone through 3 rolls since Christmas.

 So when we saw this I had to get it....We just put a little table under his bed for him to "craft" on--so this is perfect...

 Last find ---very cool wood and metal pulley.  And I finally get to use the red barn light we bought waaaaayyy back at the beginning of the summer!!!!  I'm so excited to see it hanging in their room ---it's perfect...

We also purchased some adorable red, metal booster seats (used in restaurants in the 50s)...but we dropped them off at the shop so I'll have to try to get some photos of those another time...

It was hard to let them go.  The red was perfect for their room and they were just the right size for Mighty!