~Touches Of Americana~

I hope everyone is doing well! We are almost there...the weekend!! :) I have been busy continuing to put the house back together after painting. And yesterday I worked on my entryway. I love to decorate for the 4th of July and thought I would get the few things out that I have so that we could enjoy them..as well as a few "new" old things! I got the red clock on the table from Goodwill for $3.99 (it still had the original $42.00 price tag on it) I was so excited! And the table I got at an antique shop for $20! I couldn't wait to get home and refinish it...so I started on it pretty much right away~



The candle holders on the left hand side were ones I got from Kohls a while back..they were a shiny dark brown. I painted them red, sanded/distressed them and used a dark walnut stain. The bowl on the right was my Goodwill bowl for a $1.00! I used the same technique on that as I did the candle holders. The star I also covered with dark walnut stain....it was a bright white. If you couldn't already tell I am addicted to dark walnut stain and the color black!! LOL!! :)



No honestly I am having SO much fun taking someone's cast offs and turning them into something I can display in my home. And when you can do it anywhere from $1.00-$20.00....in this economy I say that's PERFECT!!


Here is a bowl rack that I got at the antique mall... I just tucked a little flag in it~



This is in an effort to hide all of the phone cords, outlets and plug ins...I wish we didn't have to have them but we do...so camoflauge them as best we can~





This is a Salvation Army find for $4.00. I put some dark walnut stain over the whole thing to give it a more aged look~





Next I think I am going to do a little Americana display on my doughboard~ I am having way too much fun! :)


Here is an updated picture of the shelf above our deck doors.....I am pretty sure this shelf is saying leave me alone already! I was going to do just crocks on it but then I stuck my bunny up there and I kind of liked it....I am sure it won't stay this way either! Maybe it is too blah~ Oh goodness I make myself crazy! Haha!





Have a wonderful weekend!! Thank you to everyone for leaving such sweet comments and entering my giveaway! Stay tuned~ I will be announcing the winner on Monday June 1st!! :)
Until next time. Take care. ~Sarah~

Busy Weekend~Painting~Makeovers~Etc.

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend!! We got a lot accomplished! The living room is almost put back together..after painting it, the hallway, foyer and stairway. Hanging things back up is just a little stressful....the walls are so clean and perfect I hate to put any holes in the walls at all. But....we did manage to get things hung back up~and thus the tweaking begins! My poor shelves are begging me to leave them alone already! :)

We needed an end table in our living room, and my husband and I found this one at Goodwill for $9.99! Can't beat that price!

Here it is before~

And here it is after~

A couple more photos of our new paint job and also the makeover I did on a shelf that I got at a garage sale for $5.00!

Here is the quilt that hangs above our stairs. The quilt hanger was just wood...I painted it black~

Here is what that shelf looked like before~

I also have a hide and seek to share. I have always hated the security pad and this lovely key hanger by our door. So I asked my Dad to make me a cabinet to cover it all up! And boy did he do a great job! I LOVE IT! Thanks Dad! :)

Here is what he made me!

Now you see it~

Now you don't~

I love hide and seeks!! And the little shelf on the bottom holds my husbands wallet, cell phone etc!

We also put a makedo shelf above our deck doors. We went to Lowes and bought some pine brackets and a 1x8 piece of poplar. I painted it the same color as the wall. Really happy with the way it turned out. Just experimenting right now as to what I will put up there....but I can't wait for Fall and Christmas to decorate it! :)

Wow...we WERE busy! When I sit here and blog about it...we did get a lot done! I have some Goodwill finds to share...and some of those finds are already made over and scattered around the house! We were hanging shelves and as I was decorating them....I was running out to the garage to paint something quick to put on those shelves! LOL! :) Don't tell me you have never done this! I will share all of my treasures and re-dos next time!

Here are a couple of pretty pictures I wanted to show you. My Clematis are in full bloom! My kids just love these flowers....in fact they were the ones that came running in to tell me to come and look at these pretty flowers!! Thanks kids or I might have missed them!! :)

We went to the zoo...and we saw these pretty flowers...not sure what they are but they were gorgeous!

This is such a beautiful time of year....take the time to smells the smells and see the sights around you! Until next time. Take care. ~Sarah~

Let's Have A Giveaway Shall We?!

Hello everyone! I can't believe it! This is my 50th post! When I started this blogging journey...I thought "What do I have to lose"...then I thought..."I have nothing to lose"! If you read back on my very first post I set some goals for myself. I didn't set any time limits on these goals. I just wanted to get back to some of the things I used to enjoy doing (like painting) and new things I wanted to learn (like stitching). I am happy to report that I have done both of these things! And I am loving every minute of it! I have also "met" some amazing and talented people through blogging. I have also met two of my blog friends in person! So fun! The whole experience has been incredible so far...can't wait to see what is next!

This is my first giveaway....how exciting!! Here is what the winner will receive: The little Americana gameboard~the pip berry star willow tree~the bag of festive jackie berries~the ticking striped towel~the handled trencher (one of my makeovers~it is not food safe)~and a mini flyscreen that I made from an antique strainer. I thought with the Memorial Day weekend upon us and the 4th of July just around the corner a patriotic giveaway would be fun! To sign up for my giveaway...you just have to be one of my friendly followers~leave me just one comment and you will be entered to win~I also have to let you know that with the weight of this package and shipping costs internationally my giveaway is only open to residents of the USA (does not include: Alaska, Hawaii or Canada) Make sure you leave me an email address if you don't have a blog so I can contact you if you win! I will announce the winner on June 1st. Good luck~this will be fun!! :)

Thank you to all of my followers. I always appreciate you stopping by and I love reading your comments.

I wish everyone a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend. A time to remember our loved ones that are no longer with us and also a time remember the brave men and women who are keeping us all safe day after day. And let us not forget those that lost their lives fighting for our country.

Until next time. Take care. ~Sarah~

Beautiful Blooms & A Whole Day Of Makeovers

Hello! It was an absolutely gorgeous day here! It was definitely time to get outside and do some makeovers! The boys couldn't have been happier...they got to be outside and run off some energy...and play with some sidewalk chalk! I hope they will sleep like logs tonight!!

First I have to share much to my surprise I walked around the corner of the house and my lilac bushes were blooming! Talk about taking time to stop and smell the lilacs!! Life is moving so fast I didn't even know they were blooming!! I LOVE lilacs! They smell AMAZING...and they bring back some great childhood memories for me!

And then there are these bushes on the other side of our house. I call them Snowball Bushes...but please anyone that knows the technical name for them feel free to speak up! All I know is that they are in full bloom too and they are beautiful!

I just had to share those beautiful blooms with all of you! Here is what I worked on most of the afternoon:

The first makeover is a basket that I have had forever.

Before~

After~

This is a recipe box I got at Goodwill and a tote that I had got at a garage sale.

Before~

Recipe Box After~

Tote After~

Close Up~

Here is a basket I also got a Goodwill...I just put a walnut stain on it.

Before~

After~

Here is the tote that was in our bathroom...I just couldn't leave it plain...so I painted it red and then a black topcoat, sanded and stained it...I like it much better!

Before~

After~

The last makeover I don't have a before picture for. It was just a little unfinished picket fence that I got at Goodwill for 99cents! I painted it red, sanded and stained it and tucked it behind my topiary on the shelf in my bedroom!

That is about it for me today! It is time to go wash all of the stain and paint off of my hands and get all of the kiddos to bed! What a beautiful day to be outside!!! Maybe tomorrow will be just as nice.....it might just be another great day for MORE makeovers!! Until next time. Take care. ~Sarah~

Bathroom Re-do And A Hide & Seek

Hello everyone! Hope you are all having a wonderful day! Us....not so much! My husband and I are getting over a stomach bug. :( We are crossing our fingers that no one else gets it! Because we all know how fun that WON'T be!! But I guess there is nothing we can do but wait and see.

I thought I would share pictures of my bathroom. There are still a few finishing touches that need to be made. My closet is off of our bathroom....a few years ago we took the closet door off and I hung up a tab top curtain, well that one no longer matches so I am on the lookout for a new one. And I am also looking for something unique to put on the wall above the shower. But here are some pictures of what I have gotten done so far~

The peg boards were just unfinished boards that we had in our garage forever. I painted, sanded, stained and pounded masonry nails into them and my hubby helped me cut them to fit and screw them in! He was a little confused as to what I was visualizing but after the peg boards were hung up and decorated he really liked them! I like them a lot too...and you can't beat FREE decorating!

The wonderful basket you see hanging there was made by Pam It is her onion basket. I just love it!

The sign is above our door and the flowers sit on top of a tall linen cabinet~

I am so glad that it is finally painted and all freshened up! A good job done! The paint color is the same as our bedroom Rio Grande by Ralph Lauren. I am very happy with the color!

Here is a hide and seek that I wanted to share with all of you. We have a Bose sound unit on top of our computer desk. It is bright white and I have been wanting to camouflage it for a while now. When I saw this amazing Toaster Cover made by Teresa. She has a wonderful website Teresa's Primitive Treasures Check it out and from there you can also go to her Etsy shop too! I e-mailed Teresa with the measurements of our sound unit and when she gave me the measurements of the toaster cover....well....let's just say it was made FOR ME! It worked perfect! Isn't her painting just amazing! I am so happy with it...and I am thinking I need another box on top of it so that it looks like a couple of stacking boxes. Something to think about~

Now you see it~

Now you don't~

Who says you have to put a toaster under a toaster cover! I am such a rebel!! LoL!

That's about it for now.....I have some Goodwill/Salvation Army/Garage Sale goodies to post. But I will save that for next time...I am hoping to have some of my treasures made over soon! So until next time take care. ~Sarah~

~Happy Mothers Day~

Wishing you all a happy Mother's Day! I hope you are spending time with the ones you love and enjoying a day that is JUST FOR YOU! We have had a wonderful day so far....we went to the Farmers Market this morning....and just finished a yummy grilled supper!

I won't be seeing my Mother today...she very much on my mind and in my heart. She is spending time in the hospital with her Mother. My Grandma will be 103 in June! They are two of the most amazing women I have ever known! My Grandma is getting better, she is a very strong woman who has always been very healthy. Please say a little prayer for her if you would....every little bit helps! We hope she is out of the hospital and back home soon! It just goes to show you....you never stop caring for your Mother and she never stops caring for you.

Here is a picture of my Mom and my Grandma at her 100th birthday party~

Here is my Mom having a great time on a boat ride on the 4th of July!

I love you Mom...you are THE BEST Mom and Friend that I could ever ask for!

Here is a poem I wanted to share....It is one of my favorites~

My Mother's Hands

My mother's hands, soft and delicate

Once touching the frame of my face

Brushing back the wisps of hair

My mother's hands holding the family

Close together at the table, meals to share

My mother's hands shaping the household

Into a coherent unit functioning daily

No friction, just blessed union and peace

My mother's hands, there to fold in

Thoughts of prayer, to reach up to

The Hands Above, the Hands of Love

My mother's hands, now worn with time

Still holding my devotion, still holding mine

Copyright 2007 by Sharon Jordan

Here is a picture of me and our five kiddos.....it was taken a couple years ago...but I just love it! It is quick snapshots like these that sometimes turn out to be favorites~

Happy Mom's Day to all of my blog friends! Until next time. Take care. ~Sarah~

Bedroom Is "Done"

Happy Tuesday everyone! Well the title of my post is Bedroom Is Done! I use the term "Done" lightly! I am sure that the bedroom will not stay JUST like this! I will always be tweaking and re-tweaking! But the painting is done and it feels so fresh and so clean! I ended up choosing a Ralph Lauren paint color called Rio Grande and I LOVE it! Thanks to my friend Sue who recommended it! :) I am a very happy camper!

I am STILL using my hubby's camera because mine is broken. So the pictures I took don't show the "true" colors of the paint and the furniture. I have to say that everything is just a bit darker than the pictures make it look. Except for the bench at the foot of the bed...it shows up way dark in these pictures. I don't like bright pictures...I like pictures to show the warm "glow" of a candle or light. So use your imaginations! Thanks! :)

The window treatments I left the same for now. I did paint the brackets black and those are new black finials on the ends~

Still not sure about this....it is a work in progress. Not loving it~

This is the shelf I got at Goodwill for $3.00. I painted it black, sanded and stained it! Design on a Dime...I am really getting into this! :)

This little stool is another makeover from my antique, thrifting outing a couple weekends ago. Are we seeing a pattern here?...I am painting everything black!! Haha! The little box that the nest and the bird is sitting on...yep Goodwill .59 cents! :)

Well...I HAVE got to get the bathroom painting done! So I am off to do more painting and more decorating! I will be so glad when it is ALL done! Hope you all have a wonderful day. Until next time. Take care. ~Sarah~