Pillow Talk

Who doesn't LOVE a sale? 

I was going through emails last Sunday morning

{they all seem to be from my good friends Ann (Taylor), William (Sonoma), J (Crew) etc...}

Anyway, I clicked on the Ballard Sale email and saw the "Weekly" sale add and started to peruse.

  What? Pillows with inserts for $8.99? 

That must be a misprint!

Nope, they were originally $26-$28 and they are marked down to $8.99!

They came Lickety Split by Friday and the quality is Superb! Now, I have to tell you that I got caught up in choosing the pillows and I HAD to order the Red Toile Bird pillow cover even though it wasn't the bargain price of $8.99, it was only $14.99. 

 Isn't it sweet?

The pillows are sitting on my bench in the Kitchen Hearth Room next to this adorable Teapot Lamp that I plan to paint and replace the shade.  Another great find at SteinMart for around $17.99.  

I've created a nice cozy little corner where I needed the extra light and decor!

Hmmmm, I might just have to order a few more of those pillows before they run out...

Beaux R'eves!

XO Cindy

Sharing at: 

Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Keeping it Simple 

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for the Winter Blues Party
Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday  

Five Days...5 Ways

The Brambleberry Cottage

Finding Fabulous 

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

Isn't It Romantic?

Isn't it Romantic?

Music in the night, a dream that can be heard.

Isn't it Romantic?

Merely to be Young on such a Night as this?

Isn't it Romantic?

 Every Note that's sung is like a Lover's Kiss.

Sweet Symbols in the Moonlight,

Do you mean that I will fall in Love per Chance?

 Isn't it Romance?

This weeks Tablescape is all about Romance!

And to me Romance is all about setting the Scene...

with Flowers

And more Flowers

And even MORE Flowers...

And Candles!

I copycatted these Music Sheet Candles from Pottery Barn with the help of the Graphics Fairy.

I added Burlap and a few trinkets that I had around, a key, a heart from my jewelry box, a dragonfly that came tied around a candle.   

And let's not forget Sweets for our Sweethearts!

A Box of Chocolates at every place setting...

 The place setting is my original Wedding China which is Noritake "Anticipation" on a Silver Charger with a 10" Doily on top. The Salad plate is Lenox Butterfly pattern in pink and blue. I am still trying to collect the other colors...
The lovely and decadent lace napkins are from Tuesday Morning layered with a pink napkin underneath and a pearl napkin ring.  The sweet bud vases are from Nell Hills years ago with dreamy pink tipped roses from Costco.

It's hard to see the lace pattern on the edges of the plate,
but it is really delicate and pretty.

It still makes me happy after all of these years so it must have been a good choice!

You can see my Burlap Runner here in this picture... Here is another view.

I added a loose ruffle to the edge with a linen like lining fabric.

A Heart with a ribbon attached serves as a place card for each guest.

 A Victorian Nosegay or a Tussie Mussie, I'm not sure which is the correct terminology, hangs on the back of each chair.

The Sideboard is dressed with A Vintage Planter of Hydrangeas

and White Battenberg Lace Napkins draped over the edge.  A Heart Banner hangs on the edge of the Buffet. 

 A Bird's nest from the front yard sits inside the crown that I ordered from Ballard's.  Mixing the "faux" and the real, the  Robin Blue egg on the far right was still in the nest while the others are from another nest that was purchased some time ago.

If Dreams are made of Imagination, 

I'm not afraid of my own Creation,

With all my heart my heart is here for you to take,

Why should I quake, 

I'm not awake,

Isn't it Romantic?

Sharing at:

Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Keeping it Simple 

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday  

Five Days...5 Ways
Faded Charm for White Wednesday

The Brambleberry Cottage

Finding Fabulous 
The Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tabletop Thursday
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

Pinned to Perfection!

It's my third installment of 

"Stop Pinning and DO Something!"

Here is the Inspiration picture Pinned from Pinterest a while back.

Pinterest.com

 I fell in love with the Plates over the bed and thought that our Master Bedroom needed something just like that to snazz it up a bit. 

We painted about a month ago and I have been trying to make small changes a little at a time.  I love Ironstone and have been collecting it at Antique shops and Thrift stores when I find a piece I like.  I love the creamy color and the weight of the plates.  

I measured the space from the bed to the ceiling and the width of the Rod Iron Bed and cut a piece of Butcher Paper the same size.  I ran out of paper so I used wrapping paper too. I measured the halfway spot and marked it with a Sharpie.  I set out my plates until I found a pleasing arrangement. 

 And, then I traced around the plates with a Sharpie and hung it up on the wall to see if I liked it!

From this point I called in Mr. Beaux!  I'm not that tall and I couldn't see putting a ladder on top of the bed!

He put a nail hole where he thought each hook would be and when we took the paper down you could easily see the holes to hang the hooks.

Just a little bit of tweaking and in the end I decided that I didn't like the two plates on the bottom so I left them off.  But overall I am very happy and even though there is a lot more "tweaking" to do in the room I like the results of this episode of 

"Stop Pinning and DO Something!"

Beaux R'eves!

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Keeping it Simple
A Sort of Fairytale
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures 
Evolution of Style 
Tutus & Tea Parties Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednsday

Roeshel at DIY Showoff
Judy at DIY by Design
From My Front Porch to Yours  
Brambleberry Cottage

Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays

Jill at French Cupboard for Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays 

Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Between U & Me
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Five Days...5 Ways

 Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

Valentine's Vignette

Let me first start off by saying that I am a Virgo.... Which means that I am a Perfectionist! I had a Tablescape all ready yesterday but I didn't like the way the pictures turned out so I am not going to post it until next week.  Can any of you relate to my Virgoness??? 

So let me show you a little Valentine's Vignette that I have in my Entry.  Preface by saying that it's no showstopper but it makes me happy everytime I walk by... And everytime my Daughter walks by.... As the Chocolate is almost gone now, but we are BOTH happy!!!

 I purchased the adorable little Bird candy dishes (or whatever you want to put in there) from Hautelook.  I LOVE Hautelook, they are my favorite for great clothes and deals.

The clock I found at Steinmart at 75% off because it had a little Chip in it. Furniture Markers to the Rescue!

The table runner was a gift and the planter is from a consignment shop where they sold a set of three for something  like $14.00. 

I love my painting that we bought while on vacation in Italy on the Amalfi coast.  25th wedding present from Mr. Beaux. Now how Romantic is that?  And the chest I believe I picked up at Nebraska Furniture Mart a while back for a Model Home but somehow it wound up in MY house. How does that Happen? 

 So, I'm joining Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP my favorite link party. And here is a preview of my Table for next week!

Beaux R'eves!

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

Inspired by Pinterest!

This weeks Pinterest Inspiration was one of the first pictures that I Pinned in my Pinterest File.  Guess it's about time I got around to doing it, right?  

Here is the Inspiration photo:

pinned from Pinterest

It's a lovely stairwell with all black frames exactly like my stairs going down into our basement; except mine is devoid of any lovely decorations like the ones in the photo.

BEFORE

 The Charcoal drawing of my daughter was done on the Spanish Steps in Rome... Love that picture. 

AFTER

A trip to Michaels and JoAnne's and a little Stencil paint 

and there you go! 

Embellished Stairwell!  

 I can keep adding as time goes on.  

 It's not a HUGE change, 

 but sometimes it's the details that matter...

 And there you have my Pinterest

"Stop Pinning and DO Something" 

of the Week.

Ta Da !

Beaux R'eves!

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Keeping it Simple 
Tutus and Tea Parties
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays  
Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Five Days...5 Ways
Someday Crafts 
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
The Brambleberry Cottage

Ruffled Breakfast Tray Tutorial

Sorry that it has taken me so long to get this out to you... Mr. Beaux decided to spend the weekend in the Hospital with an irregular heart beat or A-Fib as all the Cardiologists were calling it.  Scary, I'll tell you but nothing serious it turns out, just more of a nuisance.  If it isn't controlled and "reset" then there can be other complications.  Glad he's better and I have him on "Lockdown" for the rest of the weekend! (Which is fine with him as all the FOOTBALL games are on today).  

So On with the Tutorial!

 Here is the Breakfast Tray that I introduced to you last week.  Don't even ask me what gave me the idea to paint it and put ruffles on it because I have no idea.  I was trying to think a romantic "tablescape" idea and I woke up (literally) with this!

I had all of the items on hand... 

Tray, paint, fabric, floral picture, Modge Podge, and the only item I bought was the trim.

Do you have one of these trays lying around somewhere?

I lightly sanded the tray and  painted two coats of  Benjamin Moore's HC-144 Palladian Blue (the color of my ceilings in the Dining Room and Living Room...ooooohhhhh so pretty!) onto the tray.  I didn't worry about the white part of the tray chipping because I knew that I would be putting Modge Podge over it and that would seal it.

I have a lovely old botanical book that I have been saving to cut the pictures out and frame them but I have not gotten around to that yet.  I photocopied one of the pages onto cardstock and cut around the flowers, Modge Podged it and put around 5 coats on the top.  This picture is with two coats.  I also distressed the edges of the tray with sandpaper.  

Here comes the time consuming part...  

• I had some fabric left over from a costume for my daughter when she was in the play "Tom Sawyer".  I measured around the underside lip of the tray and cut a piece of cotton lining fabric that length plus a few inches. 
• I measured the drop from the tray to the floor which was about 6 inches or so and cut that. 
• I basically figured that I wanted three ruffles which would overlap each other.... and Viola I mathematically came up (haha if you believe that...) with 4 inches for each ruffle. 
• I cut all of the strips, sewed a hem on each one and then sewed about three strips together ( again, all mathematically deduced of course).
• There are a couple of ways to make a ruffle, you can put in a basting stitch and gather it or you can pin it onto the base fabric as shown.  I pinned. 
• Do this three times (leaving a 1/4 inch of the base fabric on top to fold over and sew), overlapping the ruffle on the bottom each time and there you have it: A ruffled apron or a ruffle for the tray! 
• The last step before Hot Gluing onto the tray is to fold the top over toward you and sew it down.  This just gives you a nicer finished look when you glue on the trim.

 Hot glue the Ruffle onto the tray.  I folded the Ruffle in half and started gluing at the halfway part in the front of the tray.  Glue on the trim to finish it off.  

 Now who would LOVE to have Breakfast brought to them on this tray?  

Beaux R'eves!

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Keeping it Simple
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's TreasuresKim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for the Winter Blues Party
Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Someday Crafts 
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays