Savvy Silverplate Tray Updo & A Springy Vignette

Silverplate trays are a staple at thrift stores.
Easy to find, often they have great "bones,"
       ...elegant shape, ornate filigree, no dents or missing feet or handles.
But most have severe surface tarnish, the kind that won't come off with any amount of elbow grease.
You know the ones!

{Update ...Please let me clarify, none of the "good stuff" was harmed in this project!  I love the look of natural tarnish, but what I'm referring to is "tarnish" due to surface damage, unattractive spots and areas that can't be cleaned or polished.  I only paint pieces that paint can enhance! :) }

{Picture below borrowed from Google Images}

Such a waste!?!

Oh no, never, the trays can be beautifully transformed with a little spray paint.

With the help of Valspar Max Anti-Rust Primer and Valspar Color Radiance Gloss Meadow Spring,
I was able to give a $5 Salvation Army find a beautiful updo, to be used as the base of a Springy
Vignette, to welcome special guests at the lake house over the weekend.

In keeping with the Nautical theme of the home, to the vignette I added a starfish
paired with a brilliant blue footed bowl (an auction box lot find,)
placed on a vintage linen napkin, found in a set from eBay.

The fresh arrangement was purchased from our local big blue box store,
and housed in a white milkglass hobnail vase.
I found three of these vases last week for $3 a piece, what a deal!

And don't you just love the pretty vintage'y pink carnations?

Just a few random shots...

Spring is just around the corner...

Hope you all are able to find some bright springy cheer, however big or small,

in this last bit of winter!   "smiles"

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Linking Post To:

Mop It Up Mondays @ I Should be mopping the Floor

Metamorphosis Monday @ BNOTP

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Freebies Makeover, Mailman's Surprise, & A Change on the Horizon

Hey, ya'll remember me???

 Seems I pulled a recent Hank Snow in Blogland! ha!

It is good to be back, I've missed all the rich inspiration that so many have to offer!

And you know what else is pretty nifty as well???

Creating a project with freebies!

The 18 x 24 pictures below, were freebies that were thrown in at an auction 

with a dresser I purchased many months ago!

  

I've been tempted to throw them right on in the trash on several occasions, but my thrifty nature wouldn't allow it!

Not even sure how they ended up paired together, same frames, but different everything else!

I dismantled the pictures, and painted the frames with Annie Sloan Provence,
then distressed and sealed them with AS Clear Wax.

The under-mats were two different colors,
so they received a coat of black craft paint around the inside edge.
Using a foam brush with thin coats prevented brush lines.

And to continue my "no cost" make-over,
I printed the conch shell prints from Graphics Fairy.

The stool wasn't exactly free,
but it was cheap, which was way more than it was worth in the condition it was in...
nasty, nasty!
(below)

After removing 5 layers of stapled and hot-glued disgusting fabric,
I'm thinking I probably won't get my time back out of this piece.

But it did turn out to be a cute little footstool, don't you think?

Also last week,
the mailman delivered the nicest surprise to my door.

Awhile ago, I joined the Junkfest Girls Blog as their 1000th Follower.
As a show of appreciation, which I thought was so sweet, they offered to send a gift.
The gifts were beautifully wrapped, and included a "R" charm on each, how personal! :)

Along with a dear hand-written note, I received wonderful scented Junkfest Sugar Scrub...
   {LOVE the packaging!}

...and the Salvage Studio Book.  As a fellow junker and with a junkin' business on the side, I have so enjoyed this book!

Thanks so much, Lynette, Cassie, and Missy!!!  :)

On another note,
since Christmas, my life has been a roller coaster of sorts.
Particularly the last few weeks...

Many doors have been closed, "so to speak,"
And others unexpectantly opened.

Prayers being answered in ways I didn't anticipate,
but I trust that God's ways are much better than mine! :)

And in the midst of the "changes on the horizon," and adjustments, and acceptance of situations,
I've been slightly overwhelmed....
And it's not that it's all bad, it may turn out to be all really good, ...in the long run,
but it's "change,"... and the frightening uncertainty that goes along with change!

I ran across the following verse in a devotion, and what an encouragement it has been,
"You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." 
Psalm 18:35 (NIV)

I'm not on a quest for greatness, but that His hand sustains me, ...what strength I do find in those words!

Anyhow, with all that being said,
one new venture for me, on March 1st, I will be into moving to a new booth at
Trash to Treasures Flea Market, in Castle Hayne, NC.

I'm really excited and look forward to Bello Market being a part of a great team of vendors!

If you live in Southeastern NC, you can also visit Bello Market at Carolina Country Peddlers Mall,
(Lumberton), in which I will soon be celebrating my one year anniversary with them!

{Random Picture below borrowed from T&T's Website, Click to link on...}

I hope to have more to share soon!
Painting up a storm to stock my booths,
and getting ready to make a few changes in my home, freshen things up a bit!

Updated window treatments are at the top of the list.
Want to make a guess at which swatch I'm leaning towards???

...stay tuned! :)

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Linking Post To:  

Tutorial Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable
Wildly Original Link Party @ I Gotta Create
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Creative Inspirations @ Embracing Change
Brag Monday @ Graphics Fairy

The Chairs that Got the Big Gig

If you've ever painted and refurbished a piece of furniture, and then sold it,

do you wonder about the home it went to?

I do, quite often...

I wonder where it will be used in the home,

how well it fits into the decor,

and just what about the piece caught the new owner's eye,

...maybe the color, maybe the fabric, maybe both.

The chairs below,

...I didn't have to wonder.

I knew from the beginning they were destined for the big lights,

stardom! 

{"smiles"}

They had a humble, not-so-attractive beginning!

{see picture below}

But the pair had great bones and scale,

which was perfect for the purpose for which they would serve.

So for the story behind these chairs...

For the last three years,

I've co-chaired an annual weekend local women's conference 

that serves about 700 ladies in our area.

The conference is held at our local High School Auditorium

after outgrowing our church sanctuary the first year!

How awesome is that, to God be the glory! 

Standing colors for the conference are aqua and green, paired with black and white damask.

Last year,

the decorating team borrowed furniture from the local furniture store,

and among the stage set were a pair of gorgeous damask print chairs.

The wood of the chairs was ebony, and the shape a more modern design.

The chairs were sold to last year's speaker

before they ever left the stage,

and after searching, 

it was revealed they were discontinued and another pair was nowhere to be found.

Our search began for a set of chairs that we could paint and customize

to keep and store for future conferences.

My co-chair found the chairs pictured, at a consignment store,

and a couple of weeks before the conference their new makeover began.

I painted the chair frames with Annie Sloan Provence

and clear coated them with Annie Sloan wax.

The damask fabric was purchased at Hobby Lobby,

and a local upholsterer recovered them.

Below,

the refurbished chairs take center stage...

The other furniture piece and lamps were on loan from 

the local furniture store and a boutique.

A local florist donated the beautiful fresh flower arrangement.

The chairs shared the stage with

Laura Story,

our praise and worship leader for this year's conference.

Laura Story is best known for the song she wrote "Blessings,"

a number one hit on the Christian Songs Billboard Chart,

 that also won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.

If you're not familiar with this song,

please take a moment to listen to it on YouTube,

it will truly bless you!

 Also headlining the event,

was Kelly Ingram, 

singer, speaker/comedienne, Television host of Friends and Neighbors,

and host of the radio show Sweet Tea with Kelly, from Atlanta, Ga.

Everyone loved her, and she will be back with us next year!

And our main speaker for the conference,

waiting in the wings below, to go on stage to speak.... 

...was Lisa Whelchel,

a former Mousekateer,

"Blair" from the 80's sitcom, The Facts of Life,

and recent second place runner up and winner of the fan award on Survivor.

{Lisa and my daughter, Ashley, below}

My husband was her driver for the weekend,

from the time her plane landed.

...Don't think I haven't heard enough about that! ha!

And since my post has wound it's way around to the conference,

I'll close with the focal verse,

"Search me, O God, and know my heart,

...and lead me in the way everlasting."

Proverbs 139:23-24

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Linking Post To:
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Creatively Tuesday @ The Rustic Pig
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Be Inspired @ Elizabeth and Co.
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Be Inspired @ Common Ground