Inspiration for my Gustavian-esque Desque...

One possible paint finish inspiration - via One King's Lane

My desk is a 1973 Sligh piece - solid wood and heavy. 

It has been sitting in my living room pretty much as I found it for several weeks now. 

I cleaned the grimy top using my girl-tools and things I had around the house. 

Next I moved on to the drawers. First up, it will receive a good washing.

The hardware is beautiful - and it will stay. 

But the dirt will have to go.  

Not that there is no dirt in my house, but it's my dirt. :)

After that...homemade plaster paint.

I am using various shades of warm gray, whites and blue gray. I plan to highlight the pretty architecture with white, like in the inspiration photo at the beginning of this post. 

I found a few sites with lovely furniture examples...Loi Thai's Tone on Tone and Georgia Lacey Antiques.

I have also created a Pinterest board, if anyone is interested in this furniture style.

My April 1973 piece has a few issues - marker and crayon along with with 31 years of grime. 

Missing trim on the center drawer. I plan to remove it. It is a center drawer, and I don't think it will be terribly missed.

This lovely piece has no molding...

via Tone on Tone

In spite of its problems, my desk has lovely details; did I mention the hardware...?

Pretty lines...gotta have pretty lines...and lots of opportunity for highlighting the architecture.

Not such a stretch in style from this lovely piece...

via Georgia Lacey Antiques

Painting is now in progress...finally. Next weekend is a long one...and I just added a couple of Jane Austen movies to my Netflix queue...

Refreshment is imminent.

Word for the Day:

Philemon 1:20

Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

After and Before - Small Projects to Keep - June 2014

Bell jars are on my list of things to buy when I find them at thrift stores. I've had a couple of near misses - seeing them in other people's baskets, but finally, this one came to me.

Before:

Not bad. Walnut wood base. The price was right, and I considered keeping the walnut finish...

It had a 2006 Michael's sticker on the bottom - $9.99.

Now...what to put inside? Where to use it?  Pinterest is in order...

After: 

This shelf was found at a neighbor's garage sale for $3. 

I did a little plaster paint, distress sanding and waxing.

Before:

I had just been measuring a spot in my kitchen to hold 1 cup size mason jars on a spice rack. The one I was planning to build would probably have been a bit bigger, but not as cute.

Now, I just need to attach hangers. 

Then, I will design some nice labels for my jars of spices...

I usually buy spices from a natural grocer, and the bags are larger than traditional spice bottles. (Cheaper, too.)

After: 

Frames picked up for less than a dollar each - one at a thrift store, the other at a garage sale. These photos are of my first born, Ethan. 

Before:

The smaller one had some sort of gilded finish - not the best. I like to leave bits of it peeking through, though.

Sorry, I guess I forgot to take a before of the taller frame. It was chipped off gold, silver and brown. 

After: 

Mini-Mirrors...some of my favorite components for gallery walls. I buy them cheap, paint them and use them everywhere, but I should probably begin selling some on Etsy...

Sorry, I forgot to take before photos of these, too. Two square ones were tired wood finishes, and the taller one was gold resin. 

They are going into my stash of mini framed things, because I have plans for another mirrored gallery wall with a seriously industrial vibe for fall...I'm getting pretty excited about it! For summer, I'm taking the lazy way out and doing minimal changes since spring.

I still have radiant violet pops in my neutral living room.

I have been seriously considering taking the orchid out and adding some aqua in there...which wouldn't be too much work. 

Summer heat takes some of my energy. This time of year, I begin looking forward to September and cooler weather. 

But I am stockpiling industrial things with fancy gold and silver things for my fall living room...I want to change it up and move furniture around...

Until then, I'm keeping things simple...and painting stuff.

Word for the Day:

Genesis 8:22

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/ - June Thrifty Treasures

Thrifty Life Thursday Features from Last Week and Link Party # 24

Painting small things while watching something British on Netflix is one of my favorite free-time activities. 

After working a 40 hour per week job, trying to keep my home presentable and fulfilling volunteer obligations, I relish a little alone time of mindless painting. It had been a while since I'd mixed up any homemade plaster paint and I had a stack of small items waiting...

I wanted to achieve a weathered wood finish on this piece, as an alternative from painting it white. I have sold two similar pieces in white on Etsy, so it was tempting to go with what works, but I opted for the gray.

Here's what it looked like before:

Not bad, really. Raw wood with a dark green stamped logo from a local honey provider. I could have left it alone...but why leave something alone when a yogurt container of plaster paint and MI-5 are waiting?

This week, we have some wonderful features again. Thank you all for never failing to inspire, amaze, and cause me to want to head to a thrift store or garage sale to copy you. 

Sometimes I have 4 features instead of three - this week is one of those weeks!

Vickie from Ranger 911 shared a very amusing post with some great thrift store finds, along with lovely inspiration photos. Trust me, you will find it hard to tell the difference between her home and her inspiration photos. She has great style!

Tina from What We Keep posted a quirky-sweet project that just grabs me! It takes a minute to figure out exactly what you're seeing...then you swoon. Love that girl! Love her heart. 



Terry from Forever Decorating shared a gorgeous chair and her "shortcuts" for doing a "half & half" chair. She has a knack for adding just the right details to make something special. 

Last but not least, a new Texas blogging friend, Cecilia from My Thrift Store Addiction, shared a project involving a great-looking shutter, vintage plates, and a clever option. 

I would also like to thank sweet Audrey for making introductions, and wish her and her sweetheart a very happy 64th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TODAY! (She won't read this most likely, since she has a movie date.) Audrey, you are a sweet inspiration, and I'm glad we're blog friends. 

THRIFTY LIFE THURSDAY #24

Gathering Guidelines:

This is a gathering for people who enjoy hunting for treasures 

that may have previous experience or lived a former life elsewhere. 

Please share items that are second-hand or are composed of second-hand materials.

Types of Posts to Share:

• Home decor, furniture, collectibles, garden items and even wearables are welcome, as long as they have a second-hand element.
• Please, no food items, new pieces from "real" stores, or crafts, unless made with upcycled, thrifty finds.

• Hand-me-downs and curbside finds are welcome, as are items found in thrift stores, garage sales, antique shops, flea markets and other interesting places.
• Treasures may be listed as you found them, or with your updates, tweaks, and re-purposes; befores and afters are both welcome.

• Items need not be "vintage" but must be pre-owned or second hand.

• Posts including Etsy and other shop links are welcome! For visitor enjoyment, please link to your blog post, not directly to your Etsy shop. 

Etiquette:

• Though it is not a requirement, it would be lovely if you would follow Revisionary Life  via Bloglovin', Blogger or subscribe via email. Links are located in my sidebar to the right.

• Please link your post (not your blog address) back to Revisionary Life.             
• Please visit at least one other party friend.

• I'd love for you to comment and introduce yourself if we've never met before. :) Otherwise, don't feel obligated to leave a comment. 

Features:

• Featured items must meet the criteria above. 
• Only posts that link back may be featured.
• I will try to leave a comment or email you and let you know if you were featured!

Word for the Day:
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, 

but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Here's the Scoop...

Literally. I found this wonderful large, hand-carved wooden scoop at a favorite thrift store recently. 

I don't have a clue what it was used for...but there's a stamp on the back that says it scooped something in Italy.

Maybe olives? Semolina or polenta? What do you think, Daniela? Any ideas?

On the flip side, this charming little jam & jelly pot was totally scoop-less. 

I love the lettering on this piece. The lid is intact, and there are no chips. It is not marked. This one will go to Etsy.

I found this other the same day - part of a set, I'd say. This mustard pot is for Hannah, but there was no lid with it. It won't need one - since a small fake plant will go inside it. 

Probably, a plant like this one I have in a topless ironstone sugar bowl in my middle bedroom. 

Since I have several topless sugar bowls, I should probably post about them like my buddy Donna...did you see her topless tureens?

Word for the Day:

James 3:11-12

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk