Happy Mother's Day!!

I wanted to wish all of you mothers out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!  I hope this special day brings you many smiles and great memories!

Smiles,
Jen

I don't know if I can part with it!!

I made a new chandelier for my Etsy shop and I have fallen in love with it!  I just don't know if I can part with it!  It's made with old metal tart pans.  Nothing fancy, but I love the way it looks in my dining room.  Sigh...

Here's to all the simple things that brighten your world!
Smiles,
Jen

A New Look

Ever get one of THOSE hairs?  You just feel like you need to change something?  I get them all the time!  My latest victim... my blog!

If you've been here before, I'm sure you see some changes. I hope you like them.  It's a work in progress, and I guess it always will be.  If you have any feedback for me GOOD, BAD OR UGLY, spill it! I've got my big girl panties on!

I've been working on my house as well.  Although it's not finished and sooo not ready for pics, here are a few items that I'm lovin'!  It makes my heart flutter just looking at these!  Now this is my kind of eye candy!

I hope you had a fabulous week!
Smiles,
Jen

Just a few items I've been working on...

I've been sick lately, so I haven't done much.  Here are a few repurposed / recycled item pieces I did get to work on...

Pendant light made from discarded galvanized duct. Very industrial look and feel!

Wall sconce made from a cabinet door, antique door hardware and a few other found pieces. Rustic but lovely!

I just love making unique items like these!!!

Smiles,
Jen

My First Chair Makeover... PART 2

Well, I finally finished it!  I think... My $1.00 chair makeover turned out fabulous!  If you missed the first part of the project, you can find it here.

The only thing I haven't done is screw the bottom cushion back on. I misplaced the screws and haven't been to the great Home Depot to get more... So, I figured I would show it as is... although the seat is sitting a bit crooked at the moment.

It's going to look lovely in my living room.  A great replacement for my old rocking chair!

Smiles,

Jen 

Thought for the Day... 3/1/2011

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

~Alan Kay

... A very empowering thought! Going back even further... To invent something, you usually plan. You can only plan what you can imagine. So... if we can imagine our future... we can plan for it.  When we plan for it, we can invent it and make it so!  In short, our future is only restricted by what we can imagine!


Smiles,
Jen

My First Chair Makeover...

Well, I found it!  My first chair makeover victom  contestant!  One of my customers requested something special, so I headed to one of my favorite thrift stores to see what I could find.  I pull into the parking lot eager to see the furniture sitting outside (it's usually great deals).  A dresser and side table... not bad.  A folding table and chairs... no thanks.  An electric scooter... I actually laughed out loud at that one - ha!  And then I saw them... CHAIRS!  My eyes drifted from chair to chair unimpressed until... there she was! 

Such a sweet little chair.  All she needed was someone to take her home and give her some TLC.  Short on green and space, I told myself I would only get her if the price was REALLY right.  I asked the cashier how much she was.  Her reply?  Ready?  Drum roll......  ONE DOLLAR!  Yes, that's $1.00!  Holy cow!  So, needless to say, I took her, and a fabulous vintage lamp that I couldn't pass up, home with me!

The GOOD:

- Strong body

- Firm cushion

- Interesting design

- Casters - LOVE the casters!

The BAD:

- Nothing really, just a few splintering pieces on the woven part.

The UGLY:

- The fabric

- "Brass" strips down the legs and around body - ewwwww

- Outdated color

So, I'm thinking a new coat of white paint (I know, just what this world needs... another white chair - shhhh!) and some updated fabric.  One problem... I can't decide on the fabric!!! A shabby floral? Stripes? Polka dots? Yellow?  Green?  Blue?  Here are a few that I like... 

 Any thoughts? 

Stay tuned for updates!

Smiles,

Jen

Here it is!!! My new chandelier!

I finished it and snapped some pictures.  My new chandelier...  What do you think?  It's made out of a vintage colander some old chain and some mason jars!  I LOVE IT!!!

 Can't wait to see how it goes over...

Smiles,
Jen


SOLD! 
This chandelier was purchased on March 3rd.  Thank you Jodi!

Washington Here I Come... Part 2

I promised pictures of my cuffs being worn in the play "Oklahoma"... Well, here are a few...  Yeaaa!  I'm so proud!

Now that's a cowboy!
Smiles,
Jen

My China Hutch Makeover

This china hutch was passed down from my father-in-law.  Nothing really special, but I wanted to keep it.  The problem? ... the color was very outdated.  So...  I grabbed the paint and off I went!

I can't find the before pictures, which kind of defeats the "before and after" aspect of this, but I wanted to post it anyway.

It use  to be that regular old brown wood with double doors on the front. I removed the doors and all of the glass, which I felt gave it a "Gone With the Wind" feeling... Don't ask me why I call it that, I don't know... romantic maybe???.  I beat the heck out of it with all kinds of torture devices, primed it and then painted it with a lovely green. After that...a creamy white. When it was almost dry, I started distressing it.  I love the way it distresses when the paint is still damp... gives it a REALLY old look, not just worn.  After it dried, I used sandpaper to it and finished it off with some Ralph Lauren faux glaze in tea stain. I just love how it turned out!

I had a great time with this piece.  Now I just have to fill it with all my pretties! 
Smiles,
Jen

Washington, DC... HERE I COME!

I sold 5 of my cuffs to a gentleman that's in charge of costumes for a new theater in Washington, DC.  It's called Arena Stage and it opens on November 5th.  Their first lay is Oklahoma and the cowboys will be wearing... MY CUFFS!!!  Woo hoo! 

So excited!  Can't wait till it starts and they publish pics.  I'm going to be looking for my cuffs!  Ha!

A great day!

Smiles,
Jen

Thinking Outside the Box... In the box!

It's really easy to keep doing what we've always done.  But, where does that get us?... Where we've always ended up!  I've really been trying to think outside the box and feel free to express myself more with my work.  In "real life", I'm kinda "out there"... My new pieces will be reflecting more of that.

Here is a found object assemblage that I made.  I think it was mostly inspired by my dad.

My thoughts that went into this piece...  When you live closed minded and "shut up" and don't open your heart to true love, you lose out.  When you die it's too late.  Now, I'm not talking about true love of someone else, I'm talking about true love of yourself.

The bird is flying away with the shinny key to his rusty heart.  It was never used... I'm sure you could all find different meanings in this peace (clock, falling rose petals, etc.).  It is something true but different for everyone. I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings on this piece. 

I hope you all have a fabulous evening...
Smiles,
Jen