Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Disappearing Act

Hi everyone! I didn't mean to disappear for this long. It's been very busy around here, the end of the school year, softball, holiday, school festival, assemblies, etc. There has been a lot of fun in all the crazy though!



I want to thank you for all the amazing comments on my feature. I can't help but smile every time a new comment comes in. Some of you emailed me questions and I will answer them soon. I've been having some computer difficulties and I'm not sure if it is all blogger or my computer. I think some of it has to do with the laptop. Time to go look for a good anti virus today! I always say it, because it is so true, blogging friends are just the best! It's so nice to meet the new readers to my blog, I plan on visiting all of you.



The living room pics are coming (tired of hearing that, yes?). I'd post it now but you would be so scared of the mess, you would run screaming, never to return. How is it that three little people can make the biggest mess in about 4.5 minutes??


I want to show you one project at least! Remember the dresser I got for Mother's Day? Here is the before pic again:


And this is what it looks like now. I did the drawers gray, the rest white and antiqued it of course. I think the details come out so much more with paint.
Hubby hung a mirror above it for me. This mirror has been sitting on my dining room floor for a long time. It was a steal for $15 at Homegoods. The mirror is scratched but you know me, I don't mind an imperfection or two! It sat on the floor because I didn't have a good place for it, until now......
I love it but it needed something. A good project idea sprung to mind! I bought these adorable clothespins off Etsy and the ribbon at good old Walmart.





Hung a couple nails, tied the ribbon to them and voila! Instant character. Now, what to put on it? Hmmmmm.....





So many possibilities! I opted for a combination of pictures and vintage postcards. Some of the postcards were purchased because the writing was so pretty. A couple are in french, wish I knew what they said! Hopefully they don't say anything bad, if someone comes over that speaks french, that could prove embarrassing. Anyway, I scoured Ebay for vintage postcards featuring places around my town. I'll add more as I find them.










Some of these postcards are older than my house and most feature a one cent stamp. Can you imagine mailing anything for one cent?!












So that is my project for the day. Fast, easy and you can change it out with your mood! At Christmas, I'll hang my cards from it. It would look very cute with black and white photos, vintage papers, newspaper clippings. Anything you like!

I will post the rest of the rooms soon. Anyone want to come help me clean this mess so I can take photos? Hello? Why are you all running away? Teehee.

Tomorrow is my birthday so I have a fun filled day ahead of me! It's hard to get excited about my birthday as I get older but the looks on the girls' faces when they came home with presents....ahhh....I just can't help but be excited. There has been whispering and giggling....hiding in their rooms with the door closed and their art supplies. I just might have some special cards to hang in my mirror tomorrow. See you all soon!!

46 comments:

Kasey said...

welcome back! i love that dresser and how it turned out.
xo

Darlene said...

Hi Michelle,

That dresser turned out GREAT! Love the postcards on the old clips! Everything you do is just so neat! Happy birthday to a fellow Gemini for tomorrow. Hope you have a wonderful one! I too have a birthday this month!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

You are so creative! This is beautiful and I love the postcard addition - I would have never thought of that!

Stacey said...

Love, love, love your latest project! That doesn't surprise me though.

Happy Birthday! Mine is in a couple of weeks.

Maisy said...

I want your brain...I want your brain...I really do. You just do everything perfectly!!!!
Welcome back. You were missed!

Melissa Miller said...

Michelle I'm glad to see you back!

How pretty everything is.
Love the idea with the vintage postcards. It really does look classic and beautiful.

Happy Birthday!
I hope your day is special.
~Melissa :)

Eileen said...

I love your blog and have been following the progress of your home for awhile. So beautiful!
Your latest project is perfectly imperfect. I love it1

I've been toying with the idea of doing a 'home' blog but I wouldn't know where to begin so I think I'll just stick with me 'this is my life' blog.

I'll be checking back for more beautiful pictures and ideas!

Dawn said...

Welcome back! You were missed!

I have 3 words for you, gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS!!!!

I LOVE what you've done with that dresser, and the clothespin/ribbon idea is genious!!!!

Have I ever told you what an inspiration you are?

Can't wait to see more pics of your livingroom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

The dresser looks so good and I love the special touch on the mirror, thats a great idea simple but really added that extra something it needed and oh by the way I liked the sneak peek of the living rm we got from the mirror, LOL, I was turning my head side to side like I could see more, I felt like I was looking through your window or something, hahaha! Have fun cleaning if I lived closer I'd come help(;
Hugs~Kelly

Sa-Sea said...

this makes me VERY happy! LOVE IT!!!!! I can't wait to see a sa-sea boutique pillow on that chair next to it! LOVE IT! ps- your pillows and purse will be there friday!!! ENJOY!!!

Susan said...

Love the dresser and the clothespin idea. From what I could see in your picture the living room looks awesome. Can't wait to see it all.
Hope you have a great Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely ADORABLE! I've been wondering what to do in my foyer, and now I am inspired! Thank you for sharing, sweet decorator!

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

That mirror is wonderful! $15?! What a steal. The postcard idea is fabulous! I just love the vintage feel.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday tomorrow! I hope it's an incredibly special and fun day for you. -Mandi

bella said...

Great paint job on the dresser. You are so right. Paint makes all the details pop. And I love that you painted the drawers gray. It looks great.

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

I love the 2-tone dresser, such a great look! And your pretty postcards look too cute hung up that way!!

Happy Birthday to you (early!), here's hoping all your birthday wishes come true :)!

Blessings,
Stacey

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

The dresser looks so beautiful. I never would have thought of using gray and white. I think the postcard banner is so cute. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!!

Marie said...

Love your dresser make-over! It's so pretty. The color combination you chose is lovely! It's funny...as I was admiring it, I heard a familiar sound - your blog list music is playing a song by my friend Greg Laswell (we're both from San Diego). It's fun to hear his music while I'm out and about!
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Junk Mammas said...

I am so doing that postcard garland. My house is so similar to yours. Similar wood work. I'd love to paint my wood work white, but the husband would never agree to it.

Love the dresser too. I have one to paint, want too add that to your list. Thanks for the all the ideas

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

That is so clever - I love the garland. The dresser is gorgeous.

betht said...

Well, happy birthday tommorrow!! Hope you have a great one! The dresser and mirror look so pretty. So many people find such great stuff at Home Goods. I wish we had one around here. Love the clothespins and the vintage postcards. So cute. And I can tell just by looking in the background that the woodwork is looking terrific with its new paint. Keep up the good work. And thanks for being such an inspiration to us all. Beth. :)

Rachel~Wildflower Photography Studio and Wildflower Creative said...

Oh, I love this! Lovely transformation on the dresser. LOVE the mirror and the postcard idea is genius! I may have to steal it.

BTW, I'm relatively new to your blog and I have to say that I love it! :) I just finished my new blog over the weekend....stop by for a visit!
http://www.littlebitvintage.blogspot.com/

Jo said...

Your dresser is gorgeous! I'm in the process of painting a dresser white, but I've been concerned about the starkness/boringness of plain white. I love the pale grey drawers! If I don't like the white, I think I'll try grey. It will still be nice and neutral. Oh, and the distressing is perfect. Thanks for the inspiration!

Brenda Pruitt said...

This is so cute! I'm keeping this idea in mind. I have a gold-framed mirror in the garage sitting on the concrete that has some imperfections. Maybe I'll get that out and try something similar. I know you probably want the "real" vintage postcards. But if you lack some, there are always free vintage art on the internet to print out...
Brenda

The Gifford's said...

I found you on "Today's Creative Blog" and I have to say that I LOVE YOUR BLOG, your decorating, the music, your "done" list on the side... I couldn't wait to see what you were going to do with the clothes pins. Very lovely!!

I'm trying to be a blogger, but I'm not very consistant, and I'm still trying to figure everything out. When I figure out how to add blogs that I follow, I will definitely have yours posted!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Enjoy the day!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous! But I've come to expect nothing less from you! Have a wonderful birthday tomorrow!

Traci @ The Bakery said...

GREAT POST!!! Have a happy birthday....

Rue said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michelle!!

See, sometimes being late to comment makes you on time... LOL

You know how I am about paint, but I really really love the dresser!! The mirror above it is perfect too. I hang my Christmas cards like that, but I never thought to do something like that all year. Very cute :)

Now hurry up and clean that mess, so we can see the living room! After you eat your cake of course ;) Oh! Scratch that! The family has to clean it because birthday girls don't have to lift a finger :D

Oh and I'm going to be blogging about what we did for our anniversary silly girl! You should know that by now. Nothing is sacred LOL

Happy Birthday!!

xo,
rue

Paige said...

The dresser looks great! What a cute idea with the postcards.

Jill@Barnes Yard said...

It looks Fab.U.Lous!

Kathi said...

Welcome back. I love what you've done. It's perfect. Kathi

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday! And I love the swag, too cute! The entire vignettte is perfection!
♥ Jen

Jen Majors (The Avon Lady) said...

I Love the Clothespins! Hope you have a wonderful Birthday!

Jen

janet said...

oh my, i love your new dresser. Im working on a cabinet right now, painting it in a swiss coffee color (cream) and i sure hope it turns out this well. Im putting our tv on it. I also love your idea with the clothes pegs, fantastic!!!!
hugs
janet

Christina said...

The dresser turned out just fabulous. I love the gray and white combo. It is just beautiful. I am hoping that one of the questions that someone asked it what is the color of gray that you used. ; ) Your ribbon with post cards just caps the whole vignette off. Pretty.

Thanks for the sweet comments on my chandelier. I'm way behind too.

cherry said...

I love the dresser redo...gorgeous. I have a similiar idea for the clothes pins..in my file....from a mag. Your inspiration may kick me into actually doing it....LOVE how it turned out for your mirror. cherry

Pam @ Frippery said...

Hi Michelle, I came by way of Cherries Jubilee. I hadn't visited before. Awesome redo of the cabinet and the clothespin garland is a must copy. I have lots of old black and white postcards of my city that I would love to display like yours. I just read your Don't Blink post and I am barely holding it together. Such absolutely true words. My youngest just graduated last week and will be moving close to campus with her brother in the fall. I truly miss all the kid messes and sweet toys to trip over. The grown up love I have with my children now is wonderful but I will always miss the little ones that they were. It is a form of grief all mothers must endure. Enjoy every moment, it really does fly. Would you mind if I linked to your post in a future post of my own? It is so worth sharing. Thanks for the lovely place to visit, Pam

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

What a beautiful transformation!!! Superb!
Just popping in to remind you that my Giveaway ends Friday at noon.
I didn’t see your name on the post.
*It’s the second post down.
Good luck! : )

Debbie said...

That looks wonderful. You are right - the dresser looks much better.

imjacobsmom said...

Really cute re-do. It's details do pop. I adore the cute clothespins and postcards, you're right it really is versatile. ~ Robyn

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Michelle!! :-)

English Cottage in Georgia said...

I love your dresser and the clothespin idea is super. Going to ETSY to find some for myself:-)

Pam @ Frippery said...

Left a little something on my blog for you.

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

I enjoyed reading your blog today.
I love all the new blogs
I have found. Quite a unique group.
I love making new blogging friends..
I have several Disney posts already on my blog and have several more to post. Hope you will stop by for a visit.

Silvia said...

once again you've done it!!beautiful!!love the idea about the cards ,very clever..it looks wonderful and the mirror just perfect..

silvia.

Rue said...

Hey you! How was your birthday?? I thought maybe you posted. Hurry up already ;)

The door was too big length wise and the work you see them doing at the neighbor's house was them using a table saw to cut 3 inches from the bottom and 2 inches from the top. Rich was scared to death the glass would break! (LOL) But it didn't :)

The hinges were in the wrong place and since we can't find his miter saw, he had to carve the area out for them with a hammer and chisel, but even with all that, it still only took him about 2 hours. We're going to cover up the other hing holes with wood putty and paint.

I say, go ahead and do it, but if it breaks.... I never said that LOL Seriously though, what do you have to lose? That's what made us go ahead and try it and it worked :)

xo,
rue

Anonymous said...

I love this!! I am going to use this idea to display some of my grandmothers handwritten recipes. This woould look beautiful in my kitchen!
Thanks!