Do you have people in your life who stimulate you creatively?  Well, I get loads of inspiration from the blogs, but one person who always leaves me with tons of ideas is my friend and blog/web/brand designer, Laura.  She just returned from a school semester in Spain and came for a short visit.  While we’re together, we always paint and sing along with musicals.  (In case some of you weren’t aware, I majored in Musical Theatre in college, so I really love belting to a good musical.) I worked on a round occasional table, which I’ll reveal to you when it’s finished… …and she painted a toile scene on my plank-top table.  Our musical of choice for this visit was Sunset Boulevard, but other favorites are Wicked, The Woman in White, and Jane Eyre.  We’re going to stay up late chatting about web design and plans for my blog.  I’m

I would like to take a post to introduce my readers to one of my newest blog friends, Christine, of Acorn Apron.  She graciously agreed to answer some questions, so we could get to know her better. Where did the name of your business/blog originate? It took me probably close to a month to come up with the name Acornapron. I had an existing blog prior to this one but I felt the name and feeling of it wasn’t quite me. So I had someone design a new blog for me and while they were working on that I had time to come up with a new name. Now acorn was inspired by a picture I saw on Etsy, it was entitled the Acorn Queen by Marisolspoon and I tossed the name acorn around with other names and apron just came to mind and loved the sound of it. Acornapron,

I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere in a few rooms in my house.  My bedroom, living room, dining room and guest room are all starting to come together.  I’m especially excited about my dining room at the moment.  Every time I peek through my home office from my kitchen, I get this view… I have found myself wandering into the room, just to look around.  Now, just imagine my blue and white Waverly curtains hanging on either side of the window.  Sigh…I am just loving it. I’m not 100% sure about the arrangement on the sideboard, but that will probably be in a constant accessory rotation and will change with the seasons. My aunt brought me the large ginger jars along with a pair of corner cupboards that I am still waiting to show you.  The drop leaf table (minus the leaves, which are in my basement) was given to me

I have always loved the shape of balloon back chairs.  Very Frenchy.  My parents had a pair in our foyer when I was in high school and they were always some of my favorite pieces of furniture in our house.  During one of my many treasure hunts in my grandparent’s attic, I was thrilled to find the two chairs that matched the ones my parents had in our foyer.  It was pretty clear why these two had been left to the heat and bugs.  The backs were broken, they were a little rickety, and the fabric… …well, let’s just say this old girl had seen better days.  So, I glued the backs together and really didn’t mind the fact that chunks were missing.  These chairs are well over a hundred years old and still maintain their original horse hair stuffing, so imperfections are expected and okay.  I pulled off the

I finished one of the slipcovers for my dining room chairs! Well, almost.  I need to make ties for it, but I couldn’t help showing it off.  Click here for a tutorial on the finish on the chairs.  Click here to see how I made my hand painted “grain sacks” for the seats.  I’ll be posting a tutorial where I share tips about working with drop cloths soon.  I made a simple fitted seat cover with a piping edge and pleated skirt.  I used the first and middle initials of my family members for the letters on the “grain sacks.”  Now, everyone has “their” chair. I drove 45 minutes to Hobby Lobby this morning to get the leafing adhesive, so I could finish my chalkboard frame.  It was killing me to have it half finished.  I love the gold against the black chalkboard.  Definitely fancy meets simple.  I purchased the frame

I have my hands in a million projects.  It’s just ridiculous.  I just want to get a room finished!  Anyway, I thought I would take a break and share the treatment I used on my newly painted dining room chairs.  You can see where I’m going with the slipcovered seats…  I’m bleaching some more drop cloths right now, so I can work on them this week.  It’s really starting to come together.  So, first of all, I primed and painted the chairs in my favorite shade of white, Creamy by Sherwin Williams.  I allowed the paint to dry and then hit the edges with an electric palm sander to distress the finish.  I’m not about distressing everything in my house, but I love the idea of distressing pieces that are going to take a lot of hits.  I don’t have to worry if my kids decide to play a rhythm on an armrest with

Psst!  There’s an awesome giveaway going on here that is perfect for anyone who loves DIY and painting.  Check it out!  I am always so flattered when people send me links to projects they’ve done that were inspired by something I created.  Let’s be honest.  We all get inspiration from somewhere and I love that I get inspiration from someone or something, share it on my blog and then it inspires others.  That’s what this blog is all about! Tamra from The Gilded Barn was inspired by my “faux feed sack bench” and created this amazing chair! I seriously want this chair.  Great job, Tamra. One of my readers, Joanne, was inspired by my hand painted basket and gave a ho-hum basket some much needed character. It looks so cute, Joanne, and it’s so simple.  Isn’t it?  I also love that bread box. Pat from Corn in My Coffee Pot threw