Winter Mantel {repost}

I am very happy to say that my sweet Daddy is making tremendous strides in recovering from his stroke.  The therapists said that in a few weeks, he will be able to perform some simple tasks on his own again.  They say within another 2-4 weeks he should be back to the point where he will be pretty self sufficient again.  We are blessed and know it could have been so much worse.  Thank you for all the emails and messages of support and prayers.

I hope its okay, but I am reposting my Winter Mantel from last year.  It's when my blog was still called "Grits and Glamour"  (ahhhh, I miss that name sometimes.)  I also had a different dear head above my fireplace - this one a beautiful grapevine one named Wilbur.

Enjoy!  xxoo

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 I have a barren mantle that has been speaking to 
me all week....

"When you gonna dress me?"

"Hey you, quit ignoring me!"

"Don't you feel guilty for abandoning me so? Don't you love me anymore?"

What?  Your home doesn't talk to you, too?  :)

So, I got up this morning, dressed the boys, fixed breakfast, watched a movie and played Go Fish! at least one hundred times.....and as soon as my son and daughter-in-law arrived to take them home -
 I got started.


The Gathering.  The Mental Planning.  The Trials.  Oh no...and the Errors.  The Formation of a Design.

This is a quick glimpse of what my mantle looked like for Thanksgiving.  I didn't go all out by any means, but because I had about 20 people coming over - and the fireplace is in my Dining Room - I had to at least make the effort.

This took me about 15 minutes to come up with, completed somewhere between the time I was making deviled eggs and the giblet gravy.

Also, remember I told you I had a new family member to introduce you to?

Well.....meet Wilbur.

He is handmade made in Maine, of 100% grapevine.


Mr. Grits just shook his head the day he was delivered and I took him out of the box.  It was love at first sight for me.  


Here is the BEFORE of my Fall Mantle:

Wilbur could not wait for me to decorate the mantle for Winter.  I think he is quite happy now.


The AFTER:

When I think of a Winter's walk, my mind sees barren branches, textured brown leaves, neutral, earthen colors and then all of a sudden - bursts of color from bright green lichen and moss.  

That is the feeling I tried to create on our mantle.

Vintage, silver pieces mimic the glitter of 
frost and snow...

Warm candlelight on a cold Winter's night...

A vintage, silver pitcher holds curly 
twigs and feathers.

A favorite leather chest....

Old books, an antique and tarnished silver tray 
and teapot, and twigs.

I didn't spend a single dime on this project.  
I just gathered together items which represented Winter to me.

A family heirloom,  this silver compote dish is filled with a glowing white candle, and surrounded by bits of bright green moss.

Glass candlesticks and more white candles balance each end, adding even more warmth and glow.


I hope you have enjoyed seeing this simple transformation of my mantle.  Happy Winter, my friends.

I am joining the following Linky Parties:
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch Met Monday Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chic Before and After Monday Mary at Boogieboard Cottage  Masterpiece Monday Marty at A Stroll Thru Life Tabletop Tuesday Linda at Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Kim at Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday Jill at French Cupboard Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays  Gina at The Chabby Chic Cottage Transformation Thursday Cindy at My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday Courtney at French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday Heather and Vanessa at the picket fence Inspiration Friday Sherry at The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home Friday Jen at Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap-Up Party
Do you have a Linky Party you think I should join?  Leave me a comment or email me, I'd love to join!
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{as always, you are welcome to pin any of these pictures,  with my permission.  just click on the Pin It With Barb  icon below.}

Farmhouse Decor {Online Shop}

When I began my online shop, Farmhouse Decor,
I promised myself that I would only carry items which truly represented the French and American Farmhouse styles, and would be unique and also be of quality.

I am so proud to now offer a unique line of 
French and American Farmhouse Furniture.

For example, the American Farmhouse Glass Front Cabinet, as shown above.

Look at this beautiful mantel in the French Farmhouse line...

Or, how about the Large Bottle Drying Rack for your garden?

This is another of my faves in the 
American Farmhouse Furniture Collection...

Tin Cubby Cabinet.  Love.  (One of these may show up in my kitchen)  :-D

Look at this charming French Bee Stool.  Cute huh?  Only $35!

My fabulous website designer is working hard to get all of these new items uploaded to the shop this week.  Make sure you check in to see what other items I am offering.

Before I go... these are not part of the furniture line, but they are oh-so-cute!

French Message Chalkboards...

Three sizes.... small, medium, and large. (sizes available on the site)  $5 - $9 - $14.  Limited quantities so get them while you can.

I am off to Atlanta for a few days to the Mart.  Very excited to see the new 2013 lines.  I will take lots of pics and share this amazing experience with you.

Have a great week, my friends!

xxoo

Entry Bench

I have a confession to make. 

My sweet hubby has gifted me with several power tools over the past years.  After years of lingerie that sat in my lingerie drawer and jewelry that often went unworn, I finally broke down and told him that what I really wanted was a band saw, a miter saw, a jig saw and other various tools.

I have completed a few small projects, but nothing major.  Yet.

Since I made the decision to give up real estate and also a huge chunk of income, I am now resorting back to my DIY roots once again.

The first major project I want to tackle is my laundry room.

(Yes, I will even embarrass myself and show you a picture of it soon.)

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Everyday on Pinterest

Strangely, even though I detest doing laundry, one of my favorite Pinterest boards is my 

"Everyday" Laundry Rooms Board.

Look at some of these beautiful "Pinspirations:"

Source: lifeingraceblog.com via Everyday on Pinterest

Source: meetsinglesonly.com via Everyday on Pinterest

Source: lacybella.com via Everyday on Pinterest

Because my laundry "room" is more of a pass through, I will never be blessed with an abundance of cabinetry and folding counters and utility sinks, etc.  :(   But, anything is better than what I have now.  

No one likes laundry, or at least no one I know.  But, my thinking is that if the laundry room is a more pleasant place to be, and has a prettier look and feel - at least the chore will not be as 

"chore-some."  :)

Which brings me back to the original picture...

Lowe's featured this great entryway project.  The step-by-step pictures make it look achievable.

Even though they call it an entryway bench, wouldn't this make a cute addition to a Laundry Room?  I can see a few adaptions here and there to create a sorting cabinet for dirty laundry with large baskets, etc.

I have the tools. I have the need.  Now I just need to find the time.  :)

if you are interested in seeing more about how to make this Bench...here is the LINK.

What project do you want to accomplish the first of this year?  I'd love to hear...

xxoo

{as always, you are more than welcome to pin any of  my pictures, with my permission}

Guest POst {Mom 4 Real}

Hi Everyone - life is still rather crazy. Dad is progressing along a little bit every day, and we are trying to do out best to prevent him from getting the flu, but we are blessed that we see small improvements each day.  Thank you so very much for all of your emails and messages of prayers and thoughts. It means the world to me.

I have another awesome guest post to share.  I was blessed to meet a very sweet and kind fellow Blogger (and I hope to meet her in person this year at a Blogger event). Jessica Kielman at Mom 4 Real is an amazing crafter, DIY'er and all around creative genius.  I know you will simply LOVE these projects.  So everyone please welcome Jessica....

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Hi all!  I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Barb for having me...I'm so happy to be guest posting at The Everyday Home!  

Let me introduce myself...I'm Jessica, and I blog at Mom 4 Real.  I love to share craft, home decor, DIY, and cleaning tips...and well, just about anything that can make being a mom a little easier.  

Today, I am going to share my top posts from 2012 with you.

As a mom of two kiddos, I really try to keep things on the easy and inexpensive side, so I hope you enjoy these projects...

How To Clean In Between The Glass On Your Stove Doors

Glitter In Glass Ornaments

Painted Parquet Floors

Breakfast Nook Redo

Make A Puppet Theater From A Pallet

Thank you so much for hanging with me today, and thank you Barb for having me!  I would love for you to stop by Mom 4 Real anytime...

Happy New Year!!!

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Thanks Jessica for sharing your 2012 Projects.
xxoo

DIY Convex Mirror

I am so happy to feature a Guest Post by my dear friend, Suzy at Worthing Court.  You will just adore her Convex Mirror Project.  What a beautiful addition to her Dining Room.  Take it away Suzy!

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Hi everyone!

I'm Suzy from Worthing Court and am so happy to be visiting with all of you today here at The Everyday Home!

I'm sharing an easy and affordable diy project with you today that I did for my dining room, but which can literally be used in any room in your home.  As a matter of fact, I'm going to be making more to use in a bedroom that I'm making over, but in a different color.

Without further adieu, here is my tutorial for making your very own convex mirrors.

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I want to share a project with you that I worked on last week and finished up over the weekend.

I love the look of a small convex mirror inside a thick, chunky frame.  I wasn't willing to pay retail for one, so I decided to try making one myself.

Here's how I did it.

Supplies you'll need are:

16" (or any size you prefer) ceiling medallion

I purchased mine at Lowes for about $20 and didn't care what color it was since I knew I'd be painting it.

5" truck mirror

I purchased mine at an eighteen wheeler type truck supplier for about $6.  If you don't have a supplier near you, just Google "5 inch convex truck mirror" and several places that sell them will pop up.

Rustoleum Metallics spray paint in the color Aged Brass

Rub n Buff in color Antique Gold

Ceramcoat craft paint in color Burnt Umber

Respirator mask (for breathing protection 
while spray painting)

hot glue gun

pliers

box cutter

Here's a closeup of the convex truck 
mirror box.

Step 1. Spray paint the ceiling medallion.  It took two coats for me to get sufficient coverage over the dark brown.

Step 2. Glaze the ceiling medallion using Burnt Umber craft paint that has been thinned down with just a tiny amount of water.  I used the wipe it on, wipe it off method until I achieved the amount of glazing that I liked.

Wipe it on...

...wipe it off.

The completed look.

Step 3. Very carefully, remove the mirror from the metal encasing by first cutting away the rubber gasket with the box cutter.  Make sure you cut away from your body not toward yourself!

Step 4. Again, very carefully, pull back the metal edges with the pliers.  Do this all the way around the mirror.  What you're trying to do is to free the mirror from what is holding it in place.

Step 5.  Ever so gently, slip the edge of the box cutter behind the edges of the mirror to gently lift it out.  This is what you will be left with.

Step 6. Hot glue the mirror to the back of the ceiling medallion.

You're done!

I used stick on Velcro Command strips to hang the mirror on the wall.  It doesn't weigh very much at all.

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Thank you Barb, for having me over to visit today!

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