My Sister, My Friend

Today I'm going to get a little more personal on my blog.  I am going to tell you about my sister, Dawn.  She is fantastic!  When I grow up I want to be just like her.  She is the most giving and loving person that I have ever known.  She works 50+ hours a week, raises two kids (Katrina and Kyle)...make that three kids, I have to include my son, who is 26 and is all grown up, but she's always there for him and she manages to host every birthday and holiday in our family.  I don't know where she gets the energy!

She calls me every day on her lunch just to chat, see how I am and how my son is, who has been living in Denver for the past year.  She's just an amazing person.

As Christmas get closer and closer, I think about my sister.  She does whatever she can to make sure that everyone gets a gift that they will love.  She tries to make everyone feel special...and she does, she really does!  I love you, sister and I can't imagine my life without you!

French Linen and Old White Stenciled Dresser

She's finally done!  Whew!!  She's a little shabby, with areas worn down though the paint.  She's a little chic, with her Paris in the Springtime stenciling.  She's done in Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White and sealed with CeCe Caldwell Wax.  I ordered new drawer pulls for the bottom and they will complete her so she can be sold.

My camera sucks, by the way.  Maybe I'll get a new one for Christmas!!  Hint, hint!!

xoxo~Di

Paris in the Springtime Stencil

I have been killing myself to get all my painting projects done before my son comes home for Christmas.  My house is my studio in the winter and it is a total wreck!

A few months ago I fell in love with the Paris in the Springtime stencil from Royal Design Studio.  I saved up and ordered one, not knowing what I was going to do with it or even how to stencil!  My friend gave me a hideous yellow mid-century modern dresser from her dads estate and then I saw an AMAZING french chippy buffet from Create Inspire and I knew I had to copy it!

This is the dresser before...

Yucky yellow and I just do NOT like mid-century modern!  Anywhoooo...I am in the process of transforming it into this...

I have to wax, distress, dress it up with some hardware, yada yada yada, but hopefully I will have it done before the kid gets home from Denver!  Wish me luck!

What Is Wrong With Saginaw, Michigan

I have lived in Saginaw County all of my life.  I have been in Saginaw Township for the past 20 years, after moving out of the city when I got broken into a couple of times.  Now, the same types of things are happening in the Township.  In fact, tonight, there was a murder 3 or 4 houses down from my aunt's house.  Saginaw is one of the most violent cities in America.  What happened to it?  Where did we fail?  I remember being at my aunt's as a child and we wandered all over the place.  It was safe!  Now, it's full of hood rats and gang members.  It makes me so sad to see the area that I live in going down hill.  How far away do I have to move to get away from the violence?  Why do I have to flee my home where I raised my child?

I am lost.  I don't know what to do.  I feel and have felt for the past few years that I should sell and move on, but there are just not enough hours in a day to get my house ready to put up for sale by myself.  I could try to recruit my family, but I feel guilty.  They have their own lives.

Somehow, some way I have to figure this out and soon.  Property values are dropping as I write this.  It's a terrible, hard decision that I have to make.  Today, I am sad!

The Dreaded Jury Duty

Here I am stuck in the jury assembly room after 3 1/2 hours of sleep. Exhausted and annoyed, not knowing when I'll get out of here and I have to work tonight! Ugh! I know it's our civic duty and all, but this couldn't come at a worse time of year! I have a million things to do before my son comes home from Denver on the 20th, including finishing 2 dressers I have been painting! Wish me luck! I pray I am out of here soon and can take a nap!

Vintage Rhinestone Shoe Clips ???

Does anyone know anything about vintage shoe clips?  I am a huge thrift shop junkie.  I spend my one day off hitting every thrift store in my area.  This summer I found a bunch of these clips at one of these local shops.  One pair had a tag from a nearby antique store.  The tag says "old shoe clips".   The backs of these matching clips are different.  In fact, they are different on most of the pairs that I found.  One has a bar and the other has 2 clips.

Does anyone have any idea if these really are shoe clips?  Or if the are something else?  I would appreciate any info anyone could give me on these.  Have a blessed day! ~Diane

Bird on a Branch Table

It's going to be 65 degrees in Michigan today!  Wow!  That's amazing!  It would be a great day to finish painting my cute little birdie table outside, but I have a family gathering today, so NO DICE!  That's okay.  I love my family and enjoy spending time with them.

Here's a sneak peek of my vintage Thomasville table...

I am using Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White and will be doing lots of distressing.  Aren't these two colors yummy?