Accessories

A french desk, graphite walls, and a chandelier with a story

December 13, 2012

I have a thing for french writing desks. This beauty pictured above is from the home of the talented Charlotte Moss. It very well may be one of my all time favorite spaces. The one below isn’t too bad either, another great look. From time to time I have looked in consignment and antique stores; but I never could find one in a reasonable price range. Over a year ago, I asked our cabinet maker if he could build one for me if ever his schedule slowed. He said yes, but the time passed and I assumed he forgot or was too busy. Understandable.

He called a couple of months ago and said he had started the desk, and a few weeks ago, he pulled up in my driveway with this unfinished beauty:

The reason I’m taking the time to tell you the back story to this (which I realize seems unimportant and I otherwise would not share); is because that sweet man gave me that desk as a gift. He refused to take anything for it. It was so uncomfortable for me, because that was of course never my intent; and honestly, I know his business has been struggling through this stagnant economy. But he refused any kind of payment, to the point that it was beginning to be insulting for us to not just gratefully receive what he was freely giving. This man knows my Jesus. I know that because we have spent a lot of time over the years talking about Him. He spends many of his nights visiting prisons to minister to inmates. I love his stories, and as he would work on a project in our home, and I would stand alongside listening to him talk.

I painted the desk and thought and prayed for Him the whole time; and once again I found myself (the one with an abundance) to be the one in greater need. I love how God’s economy, trumps our economy. His rules of want and need are different than ours here on this spoiled US soil. It turned out just as I had hoped, and I think of his generosity and kindness each time I sit:

A few other thoughts on the room. The walls are graphite, not black. That’s the 348th time I have said that. They are fantastic and I love the drama they create. Secondly, the chandelier is the same chandelier that hung over the head of my friend Angela during her Beautiful Life Conference. See it over on the left? Look how cute she looked up there on that stage, doing her thing with the Bible in hand:

The chandelier is an old antique and I had not yet hung it in my house, so we used it on stage for the conference. (Side note: next years conference in already scheduled and you can purchase tickets by clicking here.) It’s made me love the chandelier more, and every time I see it, I’m reminded of all the amazing things God did at the event. I love it when things have a story.

Lastly, the rug is new and I purchased it from Overstock.com, click here to visit the site. I will warn you though, it must be made of something that tells dogs, “Please come throw up on me!” Every time Mr. Darcy is feeling a little nauseous, he runs as fast as he can straight to that rug. Somebody or something has gotta go, and I can’t decide which I like better, the dog or the rug….it’s a really great rug.

I’m just kidding all you dog lovers….kind of.

Have a great weekend!

Filed UnderAccessories, From House to Home, Stuff to paint 4 Comments

A Pop of Blue

November 25, 2012

This mirror’s previous boring color was black. I have owned it for many years and it was time for a new look. I almost painted it several times in the past, but could never settle on a color, so the high gloss black remained for a long time. But then I saw this mirror:

(photo credit: Veranda Magazine)

Hello perfect shade of blue with an elegant gold accent! I pulled out my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, mixed a few colors together, and hung a great “new” mirror over my grandmother’s sideboard the next day.

Here were my steps:

1. Mix 2/3 Provence chalk paint with 1/3 Duck Egg Blue chalk paint. Paint over entire frame of mirror.

2. I applied Antique Gold Rub N’ Buff (available at Michaels) to the interior detailing of the mirror.

3. Tint Annie Sloan Clear Wax with a very small amount of Paris Grey Chalk Paint, and apply the tinted wax over the entire frame of the mirror. The purpose of the tinted wax is to give another layer of depth, break up the boldness of the underlying color, and “age” the piece a little.

It’s a great look, and the pop of color makes me smile when I walk through the room.

Now onto other details…please notice the monogrammed candle. I have been playing with a new font. You can get my tutorial for how to make your own monogrammed candles over a Life in Grace. It’s an oldie but goodie. The new font I have been using is called “Barocca Monogram”. I love how formal it is.

And don’t forget, the tutorial is not just for monograms. There are plenty of great words you can use too. I love my “Thankful” candle that was clearly burned a lot over the past weekend; so now I’m moving onto to Christmas. ”Joy” may be what I paint next. Oh the possibilities.

Filed UnderAccessories, French things, Stuff to paint 4 Comments

A Great Find on Etsy: Spun Sugar Paperie

October 17, 2012

One of my girlfriends found this watercolor print for me on Etsy last week:

She sent me the link because it reminded her of me…of course it did. And of course I bought it for my new Laduree room upstairs. I will likely frame it and place it on my desk, or maybe hang it if I can find a worthy spot. The print came in the mail today, and to my delight, the artist included a few samples of stationary as well.

I was really impressed with her work, so feminine and elegant (and affordable), so I wanted to share the site with you. Click here to view the Spun Sugar Paperie site.

And here are a few other samples of her work, but there are many more to chose from at her Etsy shop.

Aren’t they lovely? I love artsy people!

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The store I should have shopped in

September 14, 2012

Before my sister moved back home from Europe, we were supposed to make one last trip to visit. My Dad was meeting up with my sister in Italy, and the original plan was my husband and I would ignore all the practical reasons that we shouldn’t meet them, and just do it. In the end, practical knocked on our front door and served us with reality papers. We decided to stay home.

My phone vibrated in my purse all week with text messages and images that rubbed salt into a deep wound. I wish I had been there.

I asked them to try and find Rosa’s lamp shop in Venice. It’s the store I wanted to see so badly had I been on the trip. They found it, took their picture with Rosa and her sister, and I received the image on my phone while I sat in carpool picking up my little ones. The text said “Rosa says hello”. For some reason at that moment, it was surreal to me that I was on one side of the world and my sister was on the other side hanging out with Rosa in Venice. I got a little teary.

And then I got even more teary when this came in the mail yesterday…

And these….

And this oil canvas rolled up in a tube fresh off the streets of Italy…

This is the artist:

My Dad and sister spent a long time talking with him. They found him delightful and charming in every way. Of course they did. I intend on tracking him down. I will report back what I find out. Have a great weekend friends.

Filed UnderAccessories, Vacations 2 Comments