For our anniversary in 2011, we spent a weekend in DC and went to a Mexican restaurant at the Washingtonian center in Rockville. There I saw over sized zigzag (or chevron) striped pottery and wanted some of my own. Some were shaped like ginger jars and some were 4 feet tall floor vases. Ever since then I was on the lookout for large vases to spray paint. Nate Berkus came out with some last year for Target but I missed out on them.

So a while ago I found this blue green vase at the thrift shop for around 4 dollars and knew it would be great for my diy project. The color is perfect for Spring so I didn't want to alter that and commit to painting over it but I still had to have my stripes.

The solution was to spray paint Blue painter's tape and use that for the stripes as opposed to painting the vase. I unrolled a few feet of tape and stuck the end to a post on the deck while holding the rest of the roll and spraying what I had unraveled. It took about 15 seconds. By the time I walked back up the stairs to the house, the tape was dry.

I had already used the plain painter's tape to make the design on the vase so I just put the spray painted tape right over it and trimmed where it needed. It looked too thick that way so I took off the tape I used as the guide underneath and put the gold tape back in place. Because it's low tack, it was forgiving and easy to use. It's not perfect but it's temporary and I can add more rows, change the thickness of the tape and its color.

Now I'm on the hunt for more so I can do a grouping and am thinking up ways to use spray painted tape.

And until I find a more suitable place for it, I'll just let it glam up the tv.

Have a great day!

xo

Laura

The Shabby Nest
Liz Marie
Chic on a shoestring decorating
Skip to my Lou
Keeping it simple
Coffee Beans and bobby pins

Chalkboard history

Over 40 years ago, my mom brought home this chalkboard after pulling it out of an old, dilapidated one-room schoolhouse just a couple fields over from where I grew up in Washington state. 

The farthest back I remember playing with it was when I was in 1st grade and my mom telling me that one day my own kids could write on it. I also remember going into the schoolhouse some years later, before it was torn down and having to watch my step because cows had taken up residence. By then it was just a shell of a building. We just stood in the middle of the room and my mom told me how she would love to buy it to restore.

I don't know the age of the chalkboard but it has stayed in such good shape all these years even surviving 3 cross-country moves. It's now up in the kitchen and it makes me so happy to bring a tiny bit of history of my little valley right here in my home.

 

 

*

*The school house was across the driveway from where my horses are standing. Mine was the one on the right, Midnight. His official show name was The Midnight Champion but I just called him Middy. My sister's horse was named Star and her show name was Star Countess. She was a big diva, being a 3/4 registered Arab.  That is my childhood home in the background on the side of the hill. It was the best place to grow and play. I was so lucky.

I love lamp

As I was out treasure hunting a while back I came upon this little art deco lamp. I loved it and carried it around with me for a while but decided to put it back on the shelf. I do that a lot. I talk myself out of things before I get to the counter. I figured one more thing to re-wire was the last thing I needed. But I really wanted it though.

Then the next day I came across this page in a magazine and there was "my" exact same lamp but with a great antique bronze finish. Who said anything about re-wiring?? So I went back and got it. Now I just need to figure out the best way to get it to look like its former beauty-queen self.

And now a little Anchorman-

Have a happy Wednesday.

linking to Funky Junk Interiors

linking to House of Grace
Somewhat Simple

Mash-up of topics

Has it really been over a week?

It has all just escaped me. It's been so busy. I didn't even get to sit here once and write about all the things that were on my mind. A lot of things have taken a back seat to the job lately. That's why I am taking most of the day off to catch up on all my domestic duties (translation: the house is a wreck) so I'll just highlight a few topics from last week and mash 'em all up.

Family: We were able to see Belén play basketball at a home game which was great. She scored 3 points. Jon forewent his bowling night with the guys from church to see it. I didn't ask him to.

Blair and I mother/daughter double dated with friends to see Beauty and the Beast 3D. Blair declared it was the best date ever. Pretty much was.

Charley went to an 8 year-old's birthday party. The girl's birthday request was to go to McDonald's and have Charley over. She's a hit.

Reese is back in school. He was out a whole week with a high fever. The neighbor girls are happy. They've been knocking on the door ever since.

Trae-man is still the same. So much fun.

I am editing my brother's book. I think he has a best-seller there.

Personal: I squeezed in time for a facial. It was the first time ever that I've had one and I am SOLD! Have you had one? I know I'm late to the party but it was fabulous. That must be how the other half lives.

My hubby bought me this book. It's totally design inspiring. I take it all over the house with me so when I have a minute to sit and look through it, it's right at my fingertips. It gave me the boost I needed to get working.

I made a quick stop at the Thrift shop. It's been ages (for me anyway) but I scored a really cool side table. All the way home it smelled like fresh paint and gave me a headache (translation: it made me high.)

NFL Football playoffs: The games were really good this year but I was hoping for the Ravens and the 49ers in the Superbowl. Actually I was hoping for the Seahawks and anybody...at least there will be some good commercials.

Local/National Headlines: Joe Paterno, the long-time head football coach for Penn State that was relieved of his duties a few months back - If you don't know about it, you can read the interview that he gave just before he died. I think the bottom line is that although he probably truly regretted not doing more, he washed his hands of it once he told his superiors, plain and simple. If you knew of an incident so vicious, involving someone that worked for you, and then saw him still on the job and working with a charity that helps underprivileged youth, some of the most vulnerable of all, wouldn't you go to your superiors and say, "Hey, what's up with that? Why is he still around? What's happening with the investigation? What did you do with the information?" The program, not the victim(s), was protected.

The latest debate: I hear a lot of sound bites but no explanation on how they are going to implement changes. Just HOW are we going to pay for all these things they are promising? Does anyone else wonder that? Everybody keeps leaving that part out. Speaking of pay, we filed our taxes and the exemption for a dependent child is huge this year. This could be the last year for the current tax rate structure which has been in place since 2003. It might not be worth it to work as much as I do and just go back to one income. We'll see what happens in November.

Pets: I took our sick dog to the Dr. and now she's back to her crazy self. I should have become a Veterinarian; they charge a small fortune. It's worth not having her gnaw her paws off anymore, though.

Professional: I have been helping to put together this Ladies Night. It's proven to be a lot of work but should be fun. Come, won't you?

Behind the lens: I'm still working on the latest photo session from the Train station. I've lined up a real live bunny and some chicks for Children's Easter portraits. That should be interesting. I made it clear that I don't want to keep them, just borrow them for a day. I want to explore doing pet photos this year. First up, Alpacas! Again, that should be interesting. Do they spit? Or is that a Llama?? I forget.

Have a great day!

Color perspective

I've been studying color lately. Mixing and matching color is not one of my strong suits. I've even been reluctant to send in my color project thinking I should re-do it. Every time I look out the window and see the natural mix of colors that so beautifully play together, I remember I should just do the same. The palette is there already.

When I think of "earth tones" it seems that I automatically think of browns, tans, and blues which I really do like but then I came across this satellite image of the Dead Sea. It shows the dramatic colors that make up this region and gives a new perspective on "earth tones." Isn't it cool?

Home confusion

One thing that I really enjoy when I look at interior spaces is a good mix of vintage and contemporary design. By contemporary, I mean current times. And vintage can be your choice of antique from whatever year or design style that you enjoy.
As long as it's adds character to a room and is something you like, then who cares about "rules."

Nice legs.

Cleared for Craig

Original hardware

Now, I have a lot of different tastes which can be tricky when you don't have the space for it all. It looks a little less thought out and more like Sanford & Son when you try to cram it all in one space.

Which reminds me of the time when I lived in SC and my mom was visiting. We went to the thrift shop and I found an awesome round dinner table but we couldn't get it into my Jeep. We tried every which way and had the chairs sticking out all over. I was tying rope around everything trying to keep it from falling out on the main road. We packed and repacked. Then my mom, who was just 5'2", opened the passenger side door, stepped up so she could see over the car and said, "Why do I suddenly feel like we are Sanford & Son?" To which I busted out laughing. And then every time I tried to rearrange something, I would hum the tune of the show, do a dance and we'd laughed until our sides ached.

Anyway, sorry - I love to remember funny things...

Because our house is small and to keep it from being "home confused" - is it a home or a thrift shop? I have to rotate items and part with some like the dresser pictured which has a huge detached mirror. Although I would love to keep it, there is just no space. Insert sad face moment.

Dressers are not just for clothes anymore either. They are being used as sofa tables and office storage. I think they are even better than sofa tables because you have a place to stash all of the stuff that finds its way onto your couch. Like at my house you can find toys, parts to a game, books, magazines, play make-up, and anything that isn't supposed to be on the couch, on the couch. The list goes on. Right now I have a large ottoman that hides all that but I would love to throw a dresser in the mix - dang that space issue...

So I better quit talking (typing rather) and get this dresser up on Craig and his list before I change my mind.

Have a good day!

***no turning back. Within minutes of posting on Craigslist, the e-mails started coming in.***

****Update: Kent the dresser was sold tonight. It's nice to have some space back!****