Every great dream

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer."

That's what it says on my chalkboard right now.

I was smitten when Miss Mustard Seed posted this picture with her new pennant banner from Lisa Leonard designs.

(photo courtesy of Miss Mustard Seed)

Isn't it gorgeous? I love old metal and old wood. Unfortunately, the price for a "dream" banner is over $50, and thus out of my price range!

Luckily, I came across Vintage Skye's etsy shop!

She handcrafts the most amazing knobs, pulls, tags, and more out of clay! I wondered...could she make a pennant banner like the one I loved out of clay?

Oh yeah, baby!
(note: for about half the price of the metal banner)

Look what was waiting for me when I got home from Montana!

I am delighted with how it turned out. Each little 3" pennant has a lovely script imprint over the whole surface, and then the stamped letter is color in black. I love the texture each piece has.

Here it is on my chalkboard. Maybe it was just a little dream...but I was the dreamer!



I also got a few other treasures. I have four of these darling bird tags. One has a home on an old bottle on my buffet.


I also received four drawers knobs. They're waiting for just the right piece of furniture!

Thanks, Vintage Skye, for making my little dream come true.
This has not been a paid advertisement...I'm just...happy!

I'm also curious...what would YOU choose a banner to say??

Linking up here and.

Flowers from home

I haven't been able to work on any of my furniture projects the last couple of days, because I am in Montana! I came home for a few days to spoil my parents as much as they will let me. They still live in the home of my childhood--they have been here for over 40 years now. It is still one of the most beautiful places in the world to me.

Today I stepped outside to take a few pictures. Spring came late this year, so many of the flowers are just in full bloom now.

My parents' home has planters that run the full length of the front of the house. For as long as I can remember, my mother has planted petunias in them. In the last couple of years, my sisters and I have tried to keep that tradition alive for her Mother's Day gift. I love this striped variety.


I have mentioned before that lilacs remind me of my mother. The funny thing is that there are no lilacs growing in our yard, but the neighbors all have them! But my mother loves them, and loves lilac perfume. So do I!


I have heard this bush given many similar names: bridal wreath, bridal veil, etc. I always liked the name "bridal veil" because the branches droop down (like a veil), all covered in white flowers.


There are iris growing on the south side of our house. Many years ago, there were all different colors, but apparently the purple are dominant, because that is all that blooms now! I love iris, and have them growing in my front yard because they are one of my dad's favorite flowers. They smell wonderful, too.


There are two large maple trees that grow on the property line of our house. When I was little, there was a tire swing in one, and it was so fun to climb! The branches are too high for anyone to climb anymore! That is...unless they let this little sprig grow! Maybe it could be ready in 20 years or so!

Hope you enjoyed a little Montana springtime!

THANK YOU and a Guest Post

Hello, Everyone! I wanted to shout out a great big

to so many of you who have taken the time to make a kind comment on my French Chocolate coffee table. It has been my most popular project by far!

Today I am guest-posting at Remodelaholic!

I would be delighted if you would come visit me there,
and I'll show you what I did with this table:

Click HERE to visit me at Remodelaholic!

Sunshine Winner!

I know, I know, I promised I would post the winner of the Sunshine Canvas giveaway last night...but I was up too late working on writing up a project, and I didn't have it in me!

So, without further ado, the winner is #30!
(Number obtained from Random.org)

Holly from Full Circle Creations!

This is very intimidating for me to send her something, as she makes beautiful signs herself!

Congratulations, Holly, and thank you all for entering.

A little French Chocolate

I will admit it. I am ridiculously excited to share my latest project! It turned out just like the picture in my head--and that does NOT always happen!

I started out with this:

It was a very beat-up garage sale table, but I loved it the moment I set eyes on it. All the chains, screwdrivers, and hammers in the world can't recreate that perfectly "naturally distressed" look like this table had! And I loved the industrial feel of the iron base.

And here's what I turned it into!


I wanted the table to look like it had been made from an old shipping crate...and I think I succeeded pretty well.

Here's how I did it:

I started by looking at clipart from The Graphics Fairy. Once I found this French Chocolate ad, I didn't have to look any more! It was...the picture in my head.

I sanded the old finish off the table, but I didn't worry at all about smoothing out nicks, dings, or scratches. I wanted 'em all!

I printed off my clipart, and then took it to Office Max and had them copy it onto an overhead transparency sheet. That cost about $1. I had sent out a Facebook plea to see if anyone had an overhead projector, and one of my friends DID! I wasted no time in getting over to her house to borrow it. (And she may never get it back! Sorry, Marci!)

Then, after I got all my little kidlets to bed, I set up the overhead projector and the table on the floor of my kitchen!

Then for the next two hours, I looked like this:

and this:

and this!

(and yes, my back REALLY HURT by bedtime!)

But this was the result of my work:

I was so happy;
I made my husband get off the computer and come admire it with me!
(That didn't make him so happy.)

The next step was to sand and distress the letters down a bit more. Then I used a cheap chip brush to brush on a coat of Minwax Antique Walnut stain, wiping off the excess (I didn't want it to look too smooth and perfect). Finally, it got a couple of coats of Minwax hand-rubbed polyurethane, and then I played with a few accessories that didn't distract from my beautiful "antique" French chocolate table!

What do you think?
Does it give you a vintage/industrial/French vibe?
Are you craving chocolate now??

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Linking up to:

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(If you like this table, be sure to check out my NEW one at Remodelaholic!)

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Thanks to The Graphics Fairy,
Apartment Therapy,
My Uncommon Slice of Surbubia,
The Homeless Finch,
Boiserie & C. (this one is in Italian!),
Deco-Pasja (this one is in Polish!),
My Repurposed Life,
Craft Gossip,
The Ivy Cottage,
Better After,
Social Salutations,
Chic on a Shoestring Budget, and
West Furniture Revivals for featuring this project!

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