Annie was here......

Well, I very well may be the last

blogger in bloggerland to buy 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

but I finally did.

Now I see what all the fuss is about!

For any of you Illinois girls

needing chalk paint,

please go to Carter's Cottage

in Dekalb, IL to buy your paint and waxes.

(One of two stockists in the state)

Christie, the darling owner of this sweet shop

on the main street there, is extremely

knowledgeable about the product line

and she teaches classes on how

to use all of the products.

Photo courtesy of Connie from asimplefarmersdaughter.blogspot.com

Her shop is filled with wonderful examples
of Annie Sloan painted furniture

so please go and visit 
and prepare to shop!

I bought only one color to try, 

and she only had the dark wax in stock,

 so here are my first finished pieces 

which will go into the shop tomorrow.

I used:

Paris Gray + Dark Wax

(These were all primed 

a couple weeks ago 

and I did not take any before pics... 

so as a point of reference, the table was a

red mahogany with lots of scratches,

the urns were a cheap bronze-look imitation,

and the mirror was a bright gold.)

These items have been in my booth 

for months and have not sold. 

Hoping the new improved versions will

help them fly out the door!

(NOTE to Christie at Carter's Cottage..... thank you so much for 

letting me into your wonderful shop on a rainy Tuesday when you were closed 

so I could buy your chalk paint! I was almost two hours from home and 

you took pity on me with my "puppy face"  and let me in! 

Thanks so much!  Alison)

Visit Christie at her blog or website:

http://carterscottage.blogspot.com/

http://carterscottageinteriors.com

Linking up with Gina at:

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2011/09/shabby-sheet-music-desk.html

Linking up with Kathy at

http://charmbraceletdiva.blogspot.com/2011/10/club-gw-goodwill-no-15-and-boo.html

Fall in the Entry

Decided to pull together a 

fall look for the front entry.

The cedar paneling is darker

than usual -- a cloudy day here.

I thought I would bring in 

two of my recent finds from the

Junk Bonanza --.

a small crazy quilt 

with a scalloped edge 

and this funky black vase,

which is not typically something I

would have purchased, but the two together.....

somehow really work! 

Perfect for a fall vignette, don't you think?

Personal Shopper

Don't you love a friend

who becomes 

your personal shopper?

My sweet friend, Eric,

works at the antique shop

where our booth is located.

The other day 

when I was in the shop,

he told me something came in 

with one of the other dealers

and he thought

  I might like it.

OMG,

he was right!

Look at this handsome tassel.

The horse
head top

is a heavy

metal,

maybe

spelter?

For now, the tassel is hanging

on the back of the front door.

Love it! Thanks so much, Eric!

(P.S. If anyone knows where I can buy more of these, please let me know!)

Signs of Fall

The maple along the fence 

is always the first to turn.
  
It's still pretty warm here in Illinois,

but the sky is gray and it's been

 drizzling rain on and off all day.

Remember the antique top hat mold I found? Here it is as a candleholder.

I am trying my hardest 

to hold off

until October 1st

before buying 
our pumpkins and gourds.

 Only five more days to go 
and my willpower is fading!

Thank goodness I can get

a little fall decor fix with the

velvet pumpkins that I got last year.

They are from Hot Skwash.

I am sure every blogger must have

posted on them last fall 

because they are so soft

with a deep rich velvet

and even better....

they last from year to year.

So for now....

the velvet pumpkins 

are holding me over.

Linking up with:

www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Idea House - Interior Shots

My last post shared with you
 the exterior of the

Bachmann's Idea House,

and as promised.... 

 here are some shots of the inside

of the house, which is a small

brick and stucco bungalow type Midwestern home.

Here is a shot taken last year of the house by my friend  Linda at ItsyBitsandPieces.blogspot,com

Coffee table in the family room.

As you know,

I am not one to shy away 

from taking lots of photos

when I am surrounded 

by INSPIRATION like this,

but my cell phone battery

was running out 

and so I had to skip a couple

rooms that I normally would not have!

So here is what I was able to capture

to share with you. 

Enjoy!

Also,

if you are completely inspired

by these photos and wish to see

more of the Idea House 

and seasons of the past,

please go visit sweet Linda's blog at

Itsybitsandpieces.blogspot.com

 (She has many photos in her archives that you can access there)

Fireplace in casual living room.

Wall in living room.

Wall in sitting porch that was set up as a bar.

Wall in dining room 

Boys bedroom upstairs

Lamp made from a stack or baby board books.

Headboard made from new numbers on tin, made to look old.

Armoire in master bedroom.

Garden headboard in master bedroom.

Scoops on a wall become candle holders in the master above a radiator unit.

Family bathroom is small but has lots of details.

Shabby shutter as a valance treatment.

Upstairs den becomes a TV and media room with a homework desk.

Homework desk station.

TV wall with chalkboard surround.

The End! 

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