This Ol' House Thursday....A Little Valentine Mantle LoVE!

This fireplace is one of the reasons I married my husband.  Joking aside...I LOVE it!  When we were first dating and I saw this farmhouse and the brick (the back of this is brick and a full wall in my kitchen...I KNOW!)

But...it is January and after the EXPLOSION of Christmas decorations are packed up....my mantle, looks...um...boring?  I have been clearing the clutter EVERYWHERE else...so, I was just living with a boring mantle.  My oldest and I had a project during the little one's nap!

Boring Mantle Makeover...Valentine LoVE!  No sewing, no measuring (WHAT??)...just grab what you have and go.  Keep It Simple Sweetie!

What you need:

Twine, string...yarn...whatever!  I have this HEMP twine...bought it at WalMart and love it.

Burlap...just enough to make the banner cutouts.  Just cut how many you want...(we did five...I am weird about odd numbers) into whatever shape: rectangles, squares...or pendant like ours.  I didn't een measure..."gasp!"

Grab your glue gun (I said no sewing...easy!) and scissors.  Notice the labeling on mine...DO NOT use mom's fabric scissors on anything else in this house!  

Scrap Fabric...yep, use what you have!  I was talking to my friend yesterday she said she didn't have any fabric (WHAT???)  I told her to grab an old sheet, pillow case or an old baby outfit (AW!) and save the rest for other projects  Problem solved!

Can you see how I just set the twin on the burlap?  Then I hit it with some hot glue gun glue...folded it over and sealed it, making a little tube around the twine.

Next:  take your scrap fabric (or whatever you found) and my four year old cut out hearts.  Okay...I helped her a bit!  Glue them on with your glue gun...and press them down.  I love my assistant's chubby little hands!  (YIKES...she needs a manicure today!)

Simple and sweet...rustic and handmade.  Fits my home perfectly!

The scrap fabric we used...matches our Valentine's Day pillows on the couch...

The rest of the mantle was honestly a "let's see what we have around here to doll this mantle up a bit.." project.  I have a reeeeeaaaaalllllllllyyyyyyyy   long mantle...it's almost like two!  So, I had to get over the "nothing is centered" issue I had.  Who cares?  It gives me more space.  Maybe you have an awkward space...center what you can and then use the left or right side to create another focal point.

On this side...I balance with things I found around the house (shop your OWN house, right?)  We found pictures, candy jars (yes, the M & M's are getting low!) and a candle pillar found in a cabinet in my office.

That chalkboard is an old picture frame with a picture of a fisherman (I painted right over it with chalkpaint...) and my sister made that candy dish!

These two canvases were shoved in the top of the girls' closet (old project...I didn't like once I started it.)  The pink one was pink...so, I just stenciled LOVE right over it in white and voila!  The red and white stripe...was a yellow and white stripe.  Easy to fix...



I taped over the white part, leaving the yellow exposed.


Covered that in a good coat of red acrylic paint.

Here is the stencil...white paint and that's it!


I like things different heights ad sizes...so, I grabbed an extra cookbook holder and put the red and white canvas displayed on it.  I set a picture from our wedding day in front...cute!


That's it!  Just scrounged around my house and used what we had.  No money spent...but, we will need to head to the store for more M & M's!  This definitely is NOT the fanciest mantle...but, my four year old and I did it together.  That, my friends is the most important part of this project.
 I hope you tackle a project soon...sure feels good!

Love & Junk~

Julie

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Transformation Tuesday...Sweet Little Nightstand

A few posts ago, I told you about a mini room makeover I did.  Painted the walls a deep chocolaty-grey brown, new bedding and changed my armoir from black to a funky turquoise.

Well this black nightstand has been BUGGING me!

(Most all of the black pieces in my house are...feeling a major painting overhaul coming on.)  (Yes, you are seeing a missing knob on the top drawer of my armoir...I sold a piece a while ago that needed it.  Mine matched perfectly and I took it off...just keeping it real...telling the truth people!)

I started with my favorite staple...Annie Sloan Old White.

A nice light coat...evenly painted with a brush.  Honestly, I wasn't sure what color (if any) I was going to do next.  I knew the black nightstand didn't work in the room...not sure if I wanted white either?  So...I walked away during the drying time (quick) and thought about it.  Thinking about it during laundry, cleaning, playing...blah, blah...blah..

So a deeper, richer color was needed...Annie Sloan Paris Grey.

Another light, even coat of this AS Paris Grey over the Old White...I think this will work just fine.  (Do you notice I am painting this in our bedroom this whole time?  This paint is so easy to work with and the distressing part is used with a warm, wet rag...no mess!)

A little distressing to bring the colors out and add character. (I have found that rubbing the opposite way I painted...helps to reveal the under color better.  Try it!)

I try to distress in areas that would naturally get wear.  If you get too crazy and start distressing everywhere...it seems, um...well, a little OVERDONE!!  The selling point on this Annie Sloan paint for me was the distressing part.  Not that I dislike sanders and sand paper...but, honestly wetting a rag with warm water just seemed...well, easier?!?!    Less mess.  Less dust.  Ok...sold.

Annie Sloan Clear Wax...and a clean, lint free rag are my next tools.

I just smear a small amount of wax on my rag...and worked it right into the chalk paint. you don't have to let it dry too long...an hour or so.  Mine got to dry over night...as it was time to make dinner, give baths...bedtime.  It won't hurt it to stay on longer.

Then I came back with a different, clean and lint free rag...and with some elbow greased...buffed it to a perfect light shine.  Santa brought me a power buffer for BIG pieces...you really can't work the wax in properly without it.  

I have one other nightstand in this room to transform...later this week.  Check back for pictures of that!  Find a project to tackle and transform...start small or big, either way...just start!

Love & Junk~

Julie

Dairy Wife Wednesday...My Workout for Mind and Body

Here is my treadmill...no gym for this mom.  My tennies on...check.  Two  PB & J's made for the girls...check.  Girls saddled in the double jogger...check. A couple of waters and sunglasses...check. My favorite workout is pushing our two girls around this dairy...it is fun for them and I get in a great walk!  (I get BORED with workout DVD after DVD...ugh!!!!)



How can I not clear my head out here?  It's quiet and calm.  I have done, do and will do most of my thinking out out here.  I plan little things like what I am going to wear to that wedding on Saturday night, what's for dinner tonight, what color will make that side table from the thrift shop pop...and fun things I can do with my girls this week.






This is Millie, our chocolate lab.  My husband inherited her in our marriage...she was my puppy but soon realized dad was the one who runs this dairy and does the cool stuff.  She thinks the sun rises and sets on my husband...he won't admit it...but, he feels the same about her.  She loves our walk, too...she just enjoys it at her own pace now.  Millie has cancer and needless to say...we love her and are spoiling her.  Yep, she sleeps in front of the fireplace every night.

I have told you before...I didn't grow up in the country.  So, to be able to tell our girls what crop that is when they ask...feels good.  To be able to tell them why daddy has certain pumps on or off at certain times...feels good.  I am learning something new everyday about being a dairy farmer...from the best one I know...my husband!

Lunch time!  We will dive into feeds and who gets fed what...and why in another post.   

It is always a treat to visit the maternity barn...so exciting to see a calf born!

Thanks for joining us on our walk...have a great day!

Love & Junk~

Julie

Valentine LOVE...

My girls are BOTH taking a nap at the same time (pinch me!) So...I am working on some Valentine pillows to take to my sister in law's winery this weekend.  It is the Lover's Weekend Madera Wine Trail....and I love to sell my stuff, help her pour her husband's wines...and sip some vino myself!

Just a little V-Day LOVE...hand stenciled canvas pillows with a fabric back.

I LOVE this red and white damask fabric...have one on our couch and the chair in our room.

The WHOLE collection...fun fabrics to liven up your couch, bed or anywhere this Valentine's Day!

XOXO...simple enough.

All we need is LOVE!

I LOVE this fabric...so fun!

You can find these pillows and pillow covers in my Etsy shop...

www.thevintagebarn.etsy.com   or just click on the "shop" tab right here on my blog!

If you are local...I will see you at the Madera Wine Trail...at Chateau Lasgoity!!

Head over to www.designdininganddiapers.com

Love & Junk~

Julie

Transformation Tuesday...The Nightstand on His Side

Okay...so, this is the second part of the nightstand makeover in our room.  Remember...the new armoir paint meant the walls needed a new color, which meant we needed new (traded a friend) bedding...which meant my black nightstands did NOT match!



I first put a quick coat of Annie Sloan Old White...yes, I am painting this right in our room.  This is a small project...I have a towel underneath and this paint is really easy to work with and not messy.  I turned our ceiling fan on full blast and shut the door.



I came back to it a few hours later...during nap time.  remember these nightstands were black...so, I thought if I put some Annie Sloan Paris Grey that would make for a really rich color layering when distressed.  Speaking of distressing...remember, do it in natural worn places for an authentic look.  I simply wet a clean rag with warm water and distress away!



A quick coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax with a clean rag (I do not have an expensive wax brush...works  for me!)  Let that dry...oh, at least 30 minutes or longer and then come back with another CLEAN rag and buff it.  Work the wax in REALLY WELL!  I invested in a hand buffer...plug it in and go!



See the shine??  LOVE it!  That is my copy of Miss Mustard Seed's book "Inspired You."  I am almost done with it...LOVE that, too!  Yep, that is us on our wedding day...time flies when you are having fun!!  LOVE him, too!



Remember me saying the layering of Old White...and then Paris Grey all on top of the original black would give it a rustic look?  I think it gives it ...um, a manly look?  Perfect for my husband's side of the bed.



Not a HUGE transformation today.  Who has time for huge transformations all the time...remember, start small.  I have so many little projects to get going on.  One day at a time.....

Love & Junk~

Julie

Linking up to..............

Motivation For Your Monday...Start Small!

Here is my motivation....yep, and old barn.  My girls and I passed it today, as we do everyday when we go for our walk.  It is my reminder...and motivates me.

Why?  Well, my business name is "The Vintage Barn."  "The Vintage"...comes form...well, loving vintage finds and cool vintage furniture, vintage signs....blah, blah, blah...you get the picture.  

The "Barn"  part came from my husband being a dairy farmer...and well, THIS barn!  I have big plans for this barn.   It is a beautiful, worn greyish blue, is huge and is screaming for someone to breathe some life into her.  Someday, Julie...someday!

As for today...I am happy to keep plugging away in my own little craft room.  My motivation for the immediate future (next few months and year) is to improve the look and feel of my booth at upcoming events.  I LOVE making the little spaces feel like rooms in a home...my home or your home.  I want to help give my shoppers ideas...whether they buy something of mine or go home and transform something of their own!

I just keep plugging away at my dream...I'm sure you do, too!  Start small...I am sure you have heard, "Rome wasn't built in a day."  It wasn't.  

I hope you have a FABULOUS week!!  I have a fun transformation tomorrow...some cool pictures of the dairy and a DELICIOUS recipe later in the week.  Come back!

Love & Junk~

Julie

  

Furniture Friday...Vintage Dining Set Before & After

I wanted to go back to a piece I did  while ago...for my friend Renee.  Renee has a very cool...vintage hip style.  She saw the potential in this old table in need of some LOVE.

Her husband is a cattle man...and loading this up in a cattle trailer to deliver to my shop on our dairy...well, really is THE only way to go!!

You can see this was still in great condition and has BEAUTIFUL legs!!!

There were only two remaining original chairs...but, that is all Renee needed.  (If you ever need more...I LOVE fitting in mis-matched chairs...matchy-matchy is NO FUN!!!

Shame on me for not getting in any pictures of my process (learning as I go...ALWAYS take pictures now!)  I prepped the wood and cleaned it...a few coats of a classic black, distressed it and cleared it.  

Renee picked that fabulous fabric from Pottery Barn...it was even more beautiful in person!  I really tried to get Renee to leave this here...for me...no shot!  She did however, invite me over for coffee...she enjoys her coffee at this table most mornings.  

I love this before and after.  Not only because she is a friend of mine and this was in her family...but, it shows that you don't have to spend a TON of money at a high end furniture store to get the look you want.  A spruce up of something you love...something that has been in your family (or something you found at a yard sale from ANOTHER family) will add character to your home.

Linking and partying with....

http://designdininganddiapers.com/

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend...

Love & Junk~

Julie