A Mini-Bench Facelift!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Easter, everyone !!  I hope that you all are enjoying a wonderful holiday weekend with your family and friends.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for me ... my adventures with painting continue!  In fact, I decided to get into some glazing/staining.  Thanks to all of your creative projects and fantastic tutorials, I decided to go for it!  Jill @ <a href="http://pbplaza.blogspot.com/">Peanut Butter Plaza</a>, who has created several beautiful pieces explained how she mixes clear glaze with stain, which allows you to "play" with the stain a bit longer on the furniture.  I'm sure many of you do this, too ... I like this idea because the stain doesn't set in as fast.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sooo, I sanded, primed and painted (two coats of BM White Dove) the bench and then let it sit for a few days.  Next came distressing ... roughing it up with 80 grit sandpaper here and there and then wiping the entire bench down with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.  I then mixed the clear glaze (by Valspar) and stain (Minwax Dark Walnut) together, adding a little more of each, until I was satisfied with the color.  Then it was the moment of truth ... I slapped the mix on with an inexpensive paintbrush, waited just a bit and wiped it off with old t-shirts.  What fun!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>BEFORE:</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fo-mGuhAhFyG6O6-t5fiFcebhShYpL6ySeONdwJ1891XCPbuWlNIO9MjuWjkAz6RUBT1EKXOGePzwFWLrAt2Zs8aomx8pRMrkfVgRaEnf1-IObH2_y5LTfx0JSEqQ8HPtzHwffHYKA/s1600/dbench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fo-mGuhAhFyG6O6-t5fiFcebhShYpL6ySeONdwJ1891XCPbuWlNIO9MjuWjkAz6RUBT1EKXOGePzwFWLrAt2Zs8aomx8pRMrkfVgRaEnf1-IObH2_y5LTfx0JSEqQ8HPtzHwffHYKA/s400/dbench.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, here is <strong>AFTER:</strong></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO3bqDEDF-ziJgIL-h0nz75tKOjZzFOs6nWumq634zVdL96XkoDGHzXlHkjtG0qWzWHuC9ZtreJyYpFVcrCg52kgaxwrCHvO9o48O_Nhy_3HNo1RNev0bx77Fp1eB4fEw6bQbvZcxqw/s1600/diningbenchoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO3bqDEDF-ziJgIL-h0nz75tKOjZzFOs6nWumq634zVdL96XkoDGHzXlHkjtG0qWzWHuC9ZtreJyYpFVcrCg52kgaxwrCHvO9o48O_Nhy_3HNo1RNev0bx77Fp1eB4fEw6bQbvZcxqw/s400/diningbenchoverall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmwaQtN5PIJuOS5s7125AuwrtNMN9F9cREOgcjKea-Lr_RsSIRopDCtuL6sN4_LQduVacRcLih0EcT9vPVs65z5gjhZNdGX68Aukuy8xRac6DftkH8g4smXRbpj5TcaXCbpSP4kI2nQ/s1600/diningbenchside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmwaQtN5PIJuOS5s7125AuwrtNMN9F9cREOgcjKea-Lr_RsSIRopDCtuL6sN4_LQduVacRcLih0EcT9vPVs65z5gjhZNdGX68Aukuy8xRac6DftkH8g4smXRbpj5TcaXCbpSP4kI2nQ/s400/diningbenchside.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I really like about distressing is that there isn't a right or a wrong way to do it!  Just sand wherever you want!</span> </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclN4eWOEG7VglFRkew1M8fVHNtjMIh-eZrLUxLxmMG18qc7Y00-ivUBaI5nAE3DsQP3JwtHuokWyu2OcPTW2zdFvahyphenhyphenEa0Mx3-IxkFIOGfp3W61d2uEn3O4yvIS_M7-XDaqvs2zuFSw/s1600/benchleg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclN4eWOEG7VglFRkew1M8fVHNtjMIh-eZrLUxLxmMG18qc7Y00-ivUBaI5nAE3DsQP3JwtHuokWyu2OcPTW2zdFvahyphenhyphenEa0Mx3-IxkFIOGfp3W61d2uEn3O4yvIS_M7-XDaqvs2zuFSw/s400/benchleg2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love how much character the glaze adds to the places I distressed:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ4ZJVUQt7fGq4eexof69aOLb-GoXft6rMmwFHmyF-JOhxRnjWefIS-4WZpc9-wIt4fTrN2t8Y9MNx_vmUjBsIGgw7OP5aX84CYePBJqG5IOc_jNyUAgBaSeNNNnszihWpWKHg1XZAw/s1600/benchtop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ4ZJVUQt7fGq4eexof69aOLb-GoXft6rMmwFHmyF-JOhxRnjWefIS-4WZpc9-wIt4fTrN2t8Y9MNx_vmUjBsIGgw7OP5aX84CYePBJqG5IOc_jNyUAgBaSeNNNnszihWpWKHg1XZAw/s400/benchtop.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even sanding the metal sides here and there was easy.  (I also recovered the cushion with leftover burlap.)</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHSwsjDrmgNfPUt8cDlQhSvHBScaaFD3zOlQ3vX7QEaXkiZ3UKb51m5bhqZkUFbJq8hjXGovCtXZIBXigne8UIheJmFv8yssG1W1JyngcJu_ZAej4_hfryMLGOEWkr-Tg1w02ZPTxqw/s1600/benchside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHSwsjDrmgNfPUt8cDlQhSvHBScaaFD3zOlQ3vX7QEaXkiZ3UKb51m5bhqZkUFbJq8hjXGovCtXZIBXigne8UIheJmFv8yssG1W1JyngcJu_ZAej4_hfryMLGOEWkr-Tg1w02ZPTxqw/s400/benchside.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I'm now hooked on glazing!  And, knowing how my OCD is on the rage, it l</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ooks like the fun didn't stop on the little bench (lol) ... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x-3JFA8nRcIgXA82LHsUJTaIBRkDII6uMPdkWXVwj0GdUWNC4mcl94gxMa34ivumteMbAGA8fI8BgfgttcCT3s6aUM7xSdMcjFloc4qy1yKgSVH9If6txaRVBGimAb_oo4HGHWRteA/s1600/buffetleg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x-3JFA8nRcIgXA82LHsUJTaIBRkDII6uMPdkWXVwj0GdUWNC4mcl94gxMa34ivumteMbAGA8fI8BgfgttcCT3s6aUM7xSdMcjFloc4qy1yKgSVH9If6txaRVBGimAb_oo4HGHWRteA/s400/buffetleg.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stay tuned !!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, HAPPY EASTER !!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Linking up with:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/04/amaze-me-monday-22.html">Amaze Me Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">BNOTP/<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/04/pottery-barn-office-changes-again.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Metamorphosis Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Centsational Girl/<a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/04/paint-projects-link-party/">Paint Projects</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/04/tuesdays-treasures_26.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia+%28My+Uncommon+Slice+of+Suburbia%29">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Lettered Cottage/<a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/mouseover-how-to">How To's Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/04/upkeep-and-wow-us-wednesdays-12.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Elements Interiors/<a href="http://www.elements-interiors.net/2011/04/whassup-whassup-17.html">Whassup Wednesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Miss Mustard Seed/<a href="http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2011/04/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link_28.html">Furniture Feature Friday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Becca</span></em></strong></div>

A Mini-Bench Facelift!

Happy Easter, everyone !!  I hope that you all are enjoying a wonderful holiday weekend with your family and friends. As for me ... my adven...

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The *Long-Winded* Story of a Sign ...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7f8UMPaVrxk3ejJgZCNgelhKyMkZU_oqMSm7QnuLejSkOs0ewSGcpDUAj2Gh79jRAmIn0SsTOEZ71u7_gaONwt3KUS0YR1NjVWwJ7aovTs0YfCwos6Nf8DGG6TWQa9wDJ1FMnk6U9w/s1600/letter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7f8UMPaVrxk3ejJgZCNgelhKyMkZU_oqMSm7QnuLejSkOs0ewSGcpDUAj2Gh79jRAmIn0SsTOEZ71u7_gaONwt3KUS0YR1NjVWwJ7aovTs0YfCwos6Nf8DGG6TWQa9wDJ1FMnk6U9w/s400/letter3.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once upon a decorating-time, there was this crazy lady who woke up one day and decided to attempt a Pottery Barn-ish makeover to her traditional sitting room.  Her plan included switching out furniture, smothering said furniture with white slipcovers and pouring paint on her bookcase and mirror.  She also knew that she wanted a simple sign above the bookcase to finish it off.  Of course, this sign was nowhere to be found at her usual haunts.  Bummed, but not giving up, she forged ahead.  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As she was prepping her room to paint the bookcase, she had to slide the bookcase out from the wall.  Lo and behold, a *gabillion* (yes, a gabillion) holiday signs came crashing down from behind the bookcase (and, yes, said crazy lady hides holiday signs, as well as prints that currently aren't being used, behind there ... she *knows* some of you do that, too, so please don't judge).  The one sign that came crashing on her foot (literally), came with a subliminal message that said "paint me ... paint me!"  Yes, folks, this "Happy Holidays" sign became the sacrificial lamb to crazy lady's attempt at making a sign in something other than white chalk ink removeable markers.  There she is, in all her glory, from last Christmas:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFj9pAf-yDMR5PZQ1O5aEMh9PkSFf5ggGt0NGh7U1fMNLIKO2cmp691KhjkyIrh9hyej8J71-SEc3GJrZKovFbNw1huG6OZtbtoVVFT1CfjRk54hGSpw1b8Q15QbWASE7BuUuUowmiA/s1600/xgreatkit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFj9pAf-yDMR5PZQ1O5aEMh9PkSFf5ggGt0NGh7U1fMNLIKO2cmp691KhjkyIrh9hyej8J71-SEc3GJrZKovFbNw1huG6OZtbtoVVFT1CfjRk54hGSpw1b8Q15QbWASE7BuUuUowmiA/s400/xgreatkit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She studied tutorials in blogland; however, most of them included fancy Silhouette machines, which she doesn't have ... (yet).  And, then, she found a <a href="http://frugalfarmhousedesign.blogspot.com/2010/09/big-grocery-sign.html">tutorial</a> that might actually work! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, she sat down at her computer and typed the simple word she wanted: GATHER.  She then selected a font (Cambria) and font size (400) and printed away.  She then cut out the letters and set them aside.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-15TtbF5mXdczbwioLbQGfXaP8gYWZdd_9Sipaf3IB7B9ncJ3DOqY3GyFaJPMifBy0SnO22wYjpkYnpEjGfHKf-VeDYqrDrZer5QRM-FZFVy-ikJvqdWs82t-WbBXznX3OIOMv7KIA/s1600/letters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-15TtbF5mXdczbwioLbQGfXaP8gYWZdd_9Sipaf3IB7B9ncJ3DOqY3GyFaJPMifBy0SnO22wYjpkYnpEjGfHKf-VeDYqrDrZer5QRM-FZFVy-ikJvqdWs82t-WbBXznX3OIOMv7KIA/s400/letters1.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next, she cleared off her kitchen island, gently laid the holiday sign on painter's construction paper and then surrounded it with sandpaper, leftover paints in shades of grey, blue and white, along with used paintbrushes. Together, they then said the official decorating prayer, which is "please let this work!"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then, the fun began.  She slapped a coat of white on the wood and allowed it to dry.  Then came layers of two different blues, grey and finally, dry brushed a coat of white again (in a fancy "v" pattern she might add).  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then, came the hard part ... lining up the letters on the newly painted wood.  She channeled energy from all of you crafty folks and traced away with her son's Spiderman pencil ... HOPING that the letters were even and aligned properly.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once that was done, she turned to her black chalkboard paint (as that was the only paint in her stash).  She was a bit worried, though, that the chalkboard paint might not like being sanded down after it dried ... thought it might smear or rub off too much.  She was willing to take the chance ... all in the name of decorating!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once it dried, she held her breath and sanded away.  It was actually working!  It wasn't smearing ... it was removing pieces of the black paint and the various spots she was sanding.  Yippee!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExDhGEcr0dtgzkNiqoBAMAWXihljPqYK6r5oBSE7Hl_sKgFjoWnftuBUMbPS6d3L5dZl7IgCWOVOMP9pSRhYp46adF5hCn2pAuntlgdgiNpPFQFW0f17CfB11IKkkPhpgJlDOXlysrg/s1600/signblack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExDhGEcr0dtgzkNiqoBAMAWXihljPqYK6r5oBSE7Hl_sKgFjoWnftuBUMbPS6d3L5dZl7IgCWOVOMP9pSRhYp46adF5hCn2pAuntlgdgiNpPFQFW0f17CfB11IKkkPhpgJlDOXlysrg/s400/signblack.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Her little block of sandpaper started hitting places all over the wood, not only revealing the layers of grey and blue, but also the dark paint that once used to cover it.  Woo Hoo!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AFPP-8Mr5Mlj9aPCiwPVFgPt6ilzOD1KP69Oh2_iFGKReBsTHHmHtaDSit6w6PWRfBP1fWbHyZ8450uLVZeSNN7RdVhRU5TFk4XlcWkGReIgMxotT_rBoRyhPW-b6u4g5qEyS4qCUg/s1600/sign1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AFPP-8Mr5Mlj9aPCiwPVFgPt6ilzOD1KP69Oh2_iFGKReBsTHHmHtaDSit6w6PWRfBP1fWbHyZ8450uLVZeSNN7RdVhRU5TFk4XlcWkGReIgMxotT_rBoRyhPW-b6u4g5qEyS4qCUg/s400/sign1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finally, the crazy lady stepped away from her new creation ... blew the black sandpaper off of her hands (and off of her face and hair) and cracked a cheezy smile!  Despite her steady hand skills in need of help ... despite one letter being lower than the others ... and despite it not being perfect, it.was.done!  And, the best part is that this project was FREEEE!!!!  The only cost being blood, sweat and tears (and, okay, maybe a manicure)!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAmuugvUfh7ikHhMkIveZNLkND9X4Pa7QwG-dsju90RMUSAGrDxbDPcUUqjy0VQdt5ZfKlOcUOTbiOu6UmN1gp7Df8Gl7fZegMeG0WUYRs0W-9pOebTO3miCkehhbp_-g9plj105New/s1600/sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAmuugvUfh7ikHhMkIveZNLkND9X4Pa7QwG-dsju90RMUSAGrDxbDPcUUqjy0VQdt5ZfKlOcUOTbiOu6UmN1gp7Df8Gl7fZegMeG0WUYRs0W-9pOebTO3miCkehhbp_-g9plj105New/s400/sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, here she is today, mounted in all of her imperfect glory:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jkBkknZfc8o4nElOPoFMLAbQThCz1wMbsF3kan8RHzeiZ4VgiQmmDPvVqWRoTuwCduzo4H-PLg882tVZSEf2A-Pr7O0ll6nP0r5adjI1MdVvX3zrzz1v5c2dzN9C25xTtdGyvEyUUg/s1600/sittingfinalsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jkBkknZfc8o4nElOPoFMLAbQThCz1wMbsF3kan8RHzeiZ4VgiQmmDPvVqWRoTuwCduzo4H-PLg882tVZSEf2A-Pr7O0ll6nP0r5adjI1MdVvX3zrzz1v5c2dzN9C25xTtdGyvEyUUg/s320/sittingfinalsign.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Lesson learned and passing along ... go grab a piece of wood that you aren't using and make a sign for your home (oh, and to invest in a Silhouette machine) lol !!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a great day and thanks for hanging in for her story!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Becca</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Linking up to:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">BNOTP/<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/04/scary-hang-ups-welcome-to-117th.html">Metamorphosis Monday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/04/amaze-me-monday-21.html">Amaze Me Monday</a>  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boogieboard Cottage/<a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-to-16th-masterpiece-monday.html">Masterpiece Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Stories of A to Z/<a href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2011/04/tutorials-tips-tuesday-8-shaklee.html">Tutorial & Tips Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/04/my-garden-sign-and-tuesdays-treasures.html">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span></div>

The *Long-Winded* Story of a Sign ...

Once upon a decorating-time, there was this crazy lady who woke up one day and decided to attempt a Pottery Barn-ish makeover to her traditi...

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C'est Fini (for the moment, anyway) ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you look up OCD in the dictionary, there I am.  When it comes to change, I simply can't do just "one" thing or piece, I have to do several.  I become obsessive about it ... sadly, I'm not kidding!  Please tell me I'm not alone.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAplOfDsYvluoxqnbhazJau-6GJh4dab9Y8I1RBUNxSuxdAr1WwvbGXZSNhEAQXqEu8DMqd0wicYvyAlSSZvyIwpGPl65m9pd9H8i8kgA4COnfAKI1rFNQHGu5LOcY7YPzPB_uygjXjA/s1600/stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAplOfDsYvluoxqnbhazJau-6GJh4dab9Y8I1RBUNxSuxdAr1WwvbGXZSNhEAQXqEu8DMqd0wicYvyAlSSZvyIwpGPl65m9pd9H8i8kgA4COnfAKI1rFNQHGu5LOcY7YPzPB_uygjXjA/s400/stand.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Case in point ... our sitting room.  This is what it looked like not too long ago:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19sF49IH8cP1FHlj4oERM5G8cmmPWvw8GtpmDJWZ7Uq3B4N012Uudlg93loIXFo2g8BuDKUtzF1E4-tsPQNfvlq4MxH87jlmpfF4GXEh0w3OBJVRecbbkcaeTx4nG4sDzhb-ucp_rig/s1600/sittingafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19sF49IH8cP1FHlj4oERM5G8cmmPWvw8GtpmDJWZ7Uq3B4N012Uudlg93loIXFo2g8BuDKUtzF1E4-tsPQNfvlq4MxH87jlmpfF4GXEh0w3OBJVRecbbkcaeTx4nG4sDzhb-ucp_rig/s320/sittingafter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, well, in my attempt to lighten and brighten, giving it a Pottery Barn *coastal-y* feel, here she is today!  Just a tad different, right?  (lol)  There is a whole laundry list of things I've changed within the last few weeks!  It started with me bringing in the loveseat from our great room and adding back one of our wing chairs.  I then added white slipcovers to them (from Sure Fit).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtzgtoxoLq8-hXW8aZUBQtHKqtjTTOHPjfTHvt8VM50nytd3bzISpdEgESOj7WPI6FPoDfMtfQoNgLwjX6QYHOFC9_GMya4zD6iJN5ojiwsl5_nyW4m7u0tmo6aBhBrt14kRZGIQIyA/s1600/soverall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtzgtoxoLq8-hXW8aZUBQtHKqtjTTOHPjfTHvt8VM50nytd3bzISpdEgESOj7WPI6FPoDfMtfQoNgLwjX6QYHOFC9_GMya4zD6iJN5ojiwsl5_nyW4m7u0tmo6aBhBrt14kRZGIQIyA/s400/soverall1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pillows on my loveseat (from PB and one covered with blue fabric) used to live in our master bedroom): </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuc3l3C2ikadD_QZEu1y4X7pd4EXQImJQ8XPihxMYzY9vUH2Gcv-Y1Tuorohb9ZQnv8OMWXCuZtD2zcvHGXd-JroPgE2vshRdxhMjAVwr43eQK9ZCNe8mj6VJeUvw8Fj1aalMnLmdZw/s1600/pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuc3l3C2ikadD_QZEu1y4X7pd4EXQImJQ8XPihxMYzY9vUH2Gcv-Y1Tuorohb9ZQnv8OMWXCuZtD2zcvHGXd-JroPgE2vshRdxhMjAVwr43eQK9ZCNe8mj6VJeUvw8Fj1aalMnLmdZw/s400/pillow.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then added a linen slipcover (also from Sure Fit) to the ottoman.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yZvPmCiVFQsBSRj4vjj48gCe_xLn2gqcSYxwDVAKH7biHg7oWcohD6_6Zju9jnU3eyw3xLxoJVBSfef6SEj22NHoT1JIfWv73EOO0M_w7UTYWpAtYVNSeMEg5bHyF6eT_zYM5-KjTA/s1600/ottoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yZvPmCiVFQsBSRj4vjj48gCe_xLn2gqcSYxwDVAKH7biHg7oWcohD6_6Zju9jnU3eyw3xLxoJVBSfef6SEj22NHoT1JIfWv73EOO0M_w7UTYWpAtYVNSeMEg5bHyF6eT_zYM5-KjTA/s400/ottoman.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>  <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then changed out the window treaments ... almost knocking someone over at a local fabric store to snatch the fabric up when I spotted it!  This is the same lush zebra fabric that is now on the bar stools in our great room:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YIpbp2sy87jPpcGz1hcbG60K_QmsiXys8NIsWTqJzwzVMrKcTrqubLXtPVDRmu8OgsLqHLOWXK3Z0nj8k-DKxOVEQRieyXhf0UIS14lhqPhoZlBaourLf9AGxMtTzycicJ03NzWovw/s1600/material.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YIpbp2sy87jPpcGz1hcbG60K_QmsiXys8NIsWTqJzwzVMrKcTrqubLXtPVDRmu8OgsLqHLOWXK3Z0nj8k-DKxOVEQRieyXhf0UIS14lhqPhoZlBaourLf9AGxMtTzycicJ03NzWovw/s400/material.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the biggest changes is that I bit the bullet and painted the bookcase!  I attacked it with my new fave, BM White Dove.  I lightly sanded it ... painted one coat of KILZ primer, followed by two coats of White Dove (allowing pee-lenty of time for the paint to dry in between coats):</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIot5PfxlEm_GiTQagz-EwErkPztTIEpR59MpU362j23VcLHBgUbJlnttzgIyFz5k9OxIQNN5snjmY2O4e4ss4KiAV_0dWKstKuUXN5nDE_oGXafHKKimhCYyAh5aYXEmR-V7Ienyxtg/s1600/sitting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIot5PfxlEm_GiTQagz-EwErkPztTIEpR59MpU362j23VcLHBgUbJlnttzgIyFz5k9OxIQNN5snjmY2O4e4ss4KiAV_0dWKstKuUXN5nDE_oGXafHKKimhCYyAh5aYXEmR-V7Ienyxtg/s400/sitting2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">To continue the *coastal* feeing, I added vintage nautical wallpaper to the back of the bookcase (using double-sided tape):  I intentionally darked the colors in this picture so you can see the details of the paper better.  (Feel free to click on pic to enlarge):</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrpoaWpTO3MbPTL8qgmm4hUxO9YYVuQgSudzmkmR7CSTl2lNSWe0hrqzhk-sMWVOl2QUY_XhRN0BgdPjolVHwHXTfMqQ6p9RRq_da1XItTiRf-h3VTfaokyociL0yOM3-i2uqtE7j6A/s1600/paper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrpoaWpTO3MbPTL8qgmm4hUxO9YYVuQgSudzmkmR7CSTl2lNSWe0hrqzhk-sMWVOl2QUY_XhRN0BgdPjolVHwHXTfMqQ6p9RRq_da1XItTiRf-h3VTfaokyociL0yOM3-i2uqtE7j6A/s320/paper1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I had fun accessorizing the bookcase ... a sea fan serves as a backdrop to this clear hurricane (filled with sand, candle and shells) and a small anchor (Home Goods).  Of course, I had to add one of my vintage books that, coincidentally, has wonderful shades of blue on the cover):</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios5mYis3TyX3IBXiIHNyF7bMZWFRg3BipLiHfBSLaMvAlIAKXCXyf8Kihi19PTFiT9LuszCGQqmJV4g8B7BB9O8f6zoMTaYDHflEa7KZTyjGM3kKo2XvZqpzNnkuy0NPg-amL4e0vsw/s1600/anchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios5mYis3TyX3IBXiIHNyF7bMZWFRg3BipLiHfBSLaMvAlIAKXCXyf8Kihi19PTFiT9LuszCGQqmJV4g8B7BB9O8f6zoMTaYDHflEa7KZTyjGM3kKo2XvZqpzNnkuy0NPg-amL4e0vsw/s400/anchor.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, thanks to Layla at <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/">The Lettered Cottage</a> for this fun Spring saying that I printed and added to my mirrored frame:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5WhccfATanyZc1J_VL2hu0LW0EimuBQ6vLXj_CFmTr2uYAUBGiiMgtFpqN5BbJI-WWJgoABKCjj_tJ3y0ecl20l8cVClyur0NRDZ83r8nyIJiC_ahofE_B4gZpHJRdgC9HvyKU6ACg/s1600/frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5WhccfATanyZc1J_VL2hu0LW0EimuBQ6vLXj_CFmTr2uYAUBGiiMgtFpqN5BbJI-WWJgoABKCjj_tJ3y0ecl20l8cVClyur0NRDZ83r8nyIJiC_ahofE_B4gZpHJRdgC9HvyKU6ACg/s400/frame.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Because of the soft splashes of blue in the wallpaper, I thought I'd add more blue accents, so I brought this table in from my master bath.  I then added leftover zebra fabric to the lampshade and painted the once gold vintage mirror BM White Dove:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRs7xL1z4aT8uNholI4ykVf3YXt2Bso-LhYHuUUHODdNJ-BFKTs1UB3ES9QCPI5j9tea1h24POF3sGqSr99xGUh2zRaUT7rC172JOhpU-VKr1Z7ag3vb2rmfbqSfq41tDgZxoYtf8MQ/s1600/bluebuffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRs7xL1z4aT8uNholI4ykVf3YXt2Bso-LhYHuUUHODdNJ-BFKTs1UB3ES9QCPI5j9tea1h24POF3sGqSr99xGUh2zRaUT7rC172JOhpU-VKr1Z7ag3vb2rmfbqSfq41tDgZxoYtf8MQ/s400/bluebuffet.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the paint dried, I sanded random areas to expose the gold (click on pic to enlarge, if you'd like):</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC10c7YvhxhmPr2MYW1sty-h52cHPuMvjsigZx_JMpvsKE5xwvJNle1pZlS-Z36XqYO0uRn6LtJR-bw833XF2p8AJksKqhIBPjk7wGzSyxhOPFyjr5u3ZTD_8BCK8MkQXV1c8nC-nmw/s1600/mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC10c7YvhxhmPr2MYW1sty-h52cHPuMvjsigZx_JMpvsKE5xwvJNle1pZlS-Z36XqYO0uRn6LtJR-bw833XF2p8AJksKqhIBPjk7wGzSyxhOPFyjr5u3ZTD_8BCK8MkQXV1c8nC-nmw/s320/mirror.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brought in the trophy vase for a pop of silver (and, oops, I need to finish hot glueing the fabric to the shade):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThDj7aRTdMHNP0FqDMbPaZE3JFxwlj7g77aIn7_v1F6tV7opxtxh5AD-pkYZebOZQTv_Xa5wj9A5mlTnBczUQnM4kAWFy3lA6nbSOUEXFr0ztatjs4yFaGmCfR5Z2JbVrXLva39y09A/s1600/bluetable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThDj7aRTdMHNP0FqDMbPaZE3JFxwlj7g77aIn7_v1F6tV7opxtxh5AD-pkYZebOZQTv_Xa5wj9A5mlTnBczUQnM4kAWFy3lA6nbSOUEXFr0ztatjs4yFaGmCfR5Z2JbVrXLva39y09A/s400/bluetable.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also brought in these prints that used to live in our master bedroom:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopZzFW9NMrqoH4xYR9ny-Kel3ysLutJbNRgFHEB5VS1GIn1ywLX94nPPPbeGLNrgODwC8sj_XolWZkCQXBGWa4MYHQyTbu2qhm9k5ozMaCeNJ42ZOpwB_pp2uQehyphenhyphen5uIzGW-DuMIuDQ/s1600/prints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopZzFW9NMrqoH4xYR9ny-Kel3ysLutJbNRgFHEB5VS1GIn1ywLX94nPPPbeGLNrgODwC8sj_XolWZkCQXBGWa4MYHQyTbu2qhm9k5ozMaCeNJ42ZOpwB_pp2uQehyphenhyphen5uIzGW-DuMIuDQ/s400/prints.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, now, pretty much, our master bedroom is empty!  Gee, I wonder what that means ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks so much for visiting!  I'm off to decorator's rehab!  As I'm sure I'll be kicked out, I'll be back soon so show you how I made the "GATHER" sign above the bookcase!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzX8eO6H0yksoRdnZ0PpMB6wWThrslNm03Knb9qJLMSiXSNlznlk-mrhZ6P3hYG-n0HleBAEc5J-T9llvJuuSvZxaPbc_ReNlmSra60nDJubo0yTF1WWdrAwoQ-4oGrBSaXcARRPHWg/s1600/soverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzX8eO6H0yksoRdnZ0PpMB6wWThrslNm03Knb9qJLMSiXSNlznlk-mrhZ6P3hYG-n0HleBAEc5J-T9llvJuuSvZxaPbc_ReNlmSra60nDJubo0yTF1WWdrAwoQ-4oGrBSaXcARRPHWg/s400/soverall.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great day!  I'm off to party at:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BNOTP/<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/04/tyson-stedham-house-restoration-part-ii.html">Metamorphosis Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/04/amaze-me-monday-20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Stroll Thru Life/<a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/04/60th-table-top-tuesday.html">Tabletop Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Coastal Charm/<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2011/04/nifty-thrifty-tuesdays-no58-and.html">Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A Silly Little Sparrow/<a href="http://www.sillylittlesparrow.com/2011/04/toot-your-horn-tuesday-her-hair-jordyns.html">Toot Your Horn Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The House in the Roses/<a href="http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-off-your-cottage-monday-pink-chair.html">Show off Your Cottage</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The DIY Showoff/<a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-project-parade.html">Project Parade</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/04/tuesdays-treasures-and-full-bloom.html">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Stories of A to Z/<a href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2011/04/tutorials-tips-tuesday-7-chevron.html">Tutorials and Tips Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Type A/<a href="http://typeadecorating.blogspot.com/2011/04/anything-goes-party-12.html">Anything Goes Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Southern Savvy Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/04/wall-in-master-change-and-wow-us.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Elements Interiors/<a href="http://www.elements-interiors.net/2011/04/whassup-wednesday-and-giveaway.html">Whassup Wednesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Momma Hen/<a href="http://mommahenscoop.com/?p=1018">Whatever Wednesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">DIY by Design/<a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/swing-into-spring-its-party-12.html">Swing into Spring</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No Minimalist Here/<a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/2011/04/open-house-link-party-4.html">Open House Thursday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Shabby Chic Cottage/<a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2011/04/diy-farmhouse-kitchen-chairs.html">Transformation Thursday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A Soft Place to Land/<a href="http://asoftplace.net/2011/03/decorating-with-maps-a-link-up/">Decorating with Maps</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Common Ground/<a href="http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/vintage-inspiration-friday-33-new.html">Vintage Inspiration Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Designer Garden/<a href="http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/04/vip-party-11.html">VIP Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Chic on a Shoestring Decorating/<a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/2011/04/flaunt-it-friday-53.html">Flaunt it Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finding Fabulous/<a href="http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/2011/04/frugalicious-friday-giveawaythe-vinyl.html">Frugalicious Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Miss Mustard Seed/<a href="http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2011/04/furniture-feature-friday-cane-tutorial.html">Furniture Feature Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thrifty Decor Chick/<a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/05/before-and-after-party.html">Before and After Party</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>Becca</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>

C'est Fini (for the moment, anyway) ...

If you look up OCD in the dictionary, there I am.  When it comes to change, I simply can't do just "one" thing or piece, I hav...

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Elements of a "New" Look ...

<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Just a few snippets of what I've been getting into ...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwpkP6ZJwHNyS93jMks73_6kqe7g_x4p73GL9b7h9u9vLtQTKEV1IXtoJgJf86kNNfC6tIw-rpkTxOQdNC0FVWl80KLCf4qic31-rxEj1XvMEto7T9Uu0b3cRqABBeMyUpQ8YPqAGFQ/s1600/shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwpkP6ZJwHNyS93jMks73_6kqe7g_x4p73GL9b7h9u9vLtQTKEV1IXtoJgJf86kNNfC6tIw-rpkTxOQdNC0FVWl80KLCf4qic31-rxEj1XvMEto7T9Uu0b3cRqABBeMyUpQ8YPqAGFQ/s400/shell.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvIlYKeWiHKDgvl_S7mDBKbondtdFfl6-bUcpJEFhuIOKsNkTg8MploaPgXdO8t1kTX5GCKKowFtxofvE5-Y8It1B1bYej1KO1Vt3hfrweC6VIgpB27Ir0AhEuRQF-7gwZSu9lv-0IQ/s1600/branches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvIlYKeWiHKDgvl_S7mDBKbondtdFfl6-bUcpJEFhuIOKsNkTg8MploaPgXdO8t1kTX5GCKKowFtxofvE5-Y8It1B1bYej1KO1Vt3hfrweC6VIgpB27Ir0AhEuRQF-7gwZSu9lv-0IQ/s400/branches.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-u0pfPhcq__vmGoDZ-IlqgBmTvImBQj6JtYReIgHVR8hGL8TJWkNztbHz5unEkp4KdIFIrGepbNAOfTptOhEUi_FFAcc54kx7D_tchos5LG4Xh0NoTiVpp50TYPDC3t3y1Qkf4jnwg/s1600/bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-u0pfPhcq__vmGoDZ-IlqgBmTvImBQj6JtYReIgHVR8hGL8TJWkNztbHz5unEkp4KdIFIrGepbNAOfTptOhEUi_FFAcc54kx7D_tchos5LG4Xh0NoTiVpp50TYPDC3t3y1Qkf4jnwg/s400/bowl.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY9LLZfzJCMaCBjZ1kt-mI9oBM_JjzUGmtIFx3WjVNmcwd7XHR7Q_P3qqN2impCRVAzKKP45PsBnIBoqkfAFDeOTxD9psN3STdxXVc9_y4JHiU2BGvKmM12s_CMiwoHCm2AQF3jXNyw/s1600/coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY9LLZfzJCMaCBjZ1kt-mI9oBM_JjzUGmtIFx3WjVNmcwd7XHR7Q_P3qqN2impCRVAzKKP45PsBnIBoqkfAFDeOTxD9psN3STdxXVc9_y4JHiU2BGvKmM12s_CMiwoHCm2AQF3jXNyw/s400/coral.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutg7Y6I0pr8Ce29T7hZMpq7ChImjIgP02CKtAsIWNqGCjdEpEvtHP3ivpwKjebL14mZYHyYOrR_2lNcRnk3CsnB3QIaXRPLuWqXB3qr9i_mVmPp1mHOijYevbJTtf9zNDUfXVhLTbUw/s1600/letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutg7Y6I0pr8Ce29T7hZMpq7ChImjIgP02CKtAsIWNqGCjdEpEvtHP3ivpwKjebL14mZYHyYOrR_2lNcRnk3CsnB3QIaXRPLuWqXB3qr9i_mVmPp1mHOijYevbJTtf9zNDUfXVhLTbUw/s400/letters.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspjDq3uTnK-BplaO0NJg0gYJv7bOBYSq8Quhxhufji0-xzNvWfNm-NukGMhZPUvYhVgHFOYL_vJmTpzI4YYDShjyV0TI1MeBVA5Ne3zFIRVQqRANGTx_mUaIJDdo7FhXD-BzKOFgQ6w/s1600/sofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspjDq3uTnK-BplaO0NJg0gYJv7bOBYSq8Quhxhufji0-xzNvWfNm-NukGMhZPUvYhVgHFOYL_vJmTpzI4YYDShjyV0TI1MeBVA5Ne3zFIRVQqRANGTx_mUaIJDdo7FhXD-BzKOFgQ6w/s400/sofa.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqIue7IV8B7LUgQpW6hlDczOcBJasIquqHcmmtAEQabAjpQmnRRbrwIK7oM5LpoXg38falPFE32Xg9FfPTFCOw6EdRKld4Uq7u0TAvnXvlNVgh-2NkOy23-08jVvhnt_Fn4yoqnuOKw/s1600/mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqIue7IV8B7LUgQpW6hlDczOcBJasIquqHcmmtAEQabAjpQmnRRbrwIK7oM5LpoXg38falPFE32Xg9FfPTFCOw6EdRKld4Uq7u0TAvnXvlNVgh-2NkOy23-08jVvhnt_Fn4yoqnuOKw/s400/mirror.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I look forward to putting the paint brush down and showing you what I've been up to!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great day,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div>

Elements of a "New" Look ...

Just a few snippets of what I've been getting into ... I look forward to putting the paint brush down and showing you what I've been...

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Come Gather at Our Table ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The breakfast area ... a/k/a my *office* ... the spot where I pay the bills for my brothers' surf shop ... the spot where I blog ... and, the spot where I'm inspired by all of you creative peeps!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD3yZ6QMUruKuPnZDQlKbZ59FGYPUhNnYo2C9qcgzU6kHPZmdKctPrturbG5dgSnlPLuGcGczBph5vx6ElDyL-H5LDBSmf9PDhxVn07esLS-XfdDt6FxEgv2ezhVmJFx8RzmcCgFTZA/s1600/table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD3yZ6QMUruKuPnZDQlKbZ59FGYPUhNnYo2C9qcgzU6kHPZmdKctPrturbG5dgSnlPLuGcGczBph5vx6ElDyL-H5LDBSmf9PDhxVn07esLS-XfdDt6FxEgv2ezhVmJFx8RzmcCgFTZA/s400/table.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">An old silver platter, pitchers, Wedgewood/Florentine china (from my sweet Mom), flowers and antique silver serve as the centerpiece:  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptG2_VHW0MadJ0fTJyxnFLWe_Bv83JI_zjUseEKXewpbq93MPwLnZNebT_5oSdYT_F-TfoGQcqydfIIqF5jkMn6ABC5-Q4OBuaIYbzutgCHjM5zzfmesD4s1kJEco1BiPZiwHML5wqQ/s1600/centerpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptG2_VHW0MadJ0fTJyxnFLWe_Bv83JI_zjUseEKXewpbq93MPwLnZNebT_5oSdYT_F-TfoGQcqydfIIqF5jkMn6ABC5-Q4OBuaIYbzutgCHjM5zzfmesD4s1kJEco1BiPZiwHML5wqQ/s400/centerpiece.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">While at PB the other week, I spotted their antique silver line, which are all etched ... beautiful!  I wanted to buy every single piece!  However, the prices quickly ended that love affair.  I did manage, however, to grab these pretty cheese knives (that I mixed in with other flatware):  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDogwqPHxRDZmjKsLDmfdtfg7Jq0UdDKMwkS4_6aGD7xUj8vpJXHADc55_bnBB18qwurwKKDOr8Ab8ztwbw2mdC_TMd9WJRhz-3LgiAjMHdbxL9Vd1uKc5InzQGwdCGP3Y-3LlDOz9aA/s1600/cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDogwqPHxRDZmjKsLDmfdtfg7Jq0UdDKMwkS4_6aGD7xUj8vpJXHADc55_bnBB18qwurwKKDOr8Ab8ztwbw2mdC_TMd9WJRhz-3LgiAjMHdbxL9Vd1uKc5InzQGwdCGP3Y-3LlDOz9aA/s320/cup.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the vintage detail:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkLgazR51aEZEFVxJ5tNIWUhCd1pTxi_H-pajl-sMBsOiqAYEYGry_3RcUXhPPKZYqP9OiNVQxKzaoF7_z4bOtys4iME9ZBCCIcn6kMA6W4a766Jwwp09o1nS-QTdJHqBb4tz2l0aBA/s1600/knife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkLgazR51aEZEFVxJ5tNIWUhCd1pTxi_H-pajl-sMBsOiqAYEYGry_3RcUXhPPKZYqP9OiNVQxKzaoF7_z4bOtys4iME9ZBCCIcn6kMA6W4a766Jwwp09o1nS-QTdJHqBb4tz2l0aBA/s400/knife.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, okay, the matching salt and pepper shakers jumped in my basket, too.  *Hate* when that happens ...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh3JE-8IkBdSajWxHo8FuFHjWnICO4-Ytbal_L1x9LPSh-NWxOnxLqUgq6m_w7ljY2EVTqort3jbYcKFJafwHPl6U22iRjleSlkbTwIeDRRnaMvl_F6imlKndsISGpjrIGjkZRo6xXA/s1600/saltpepper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh3JE-8IkBdSajWxHo8FuFHjWnICO4-Ytbal_L1x9LPSh-NWxOnxLqUgq6m_w7ljY2EVTqort3jbYcKFJafwHPl6U22iRjleSlkbTwIeDRRnaMvl_F6imlKndsISGpjrIGjkZRo6xXA/s400/saltpepper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The metal/wood piece mounted above the window is from HomeGoods, and the window treatments are from PB. In order to save moola, I bought two panels and cut them up the middle, making four narrower panels!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qYR4mLaKSnIo3IcVLKFUqtifnB-YsVOUrI0Co6xE5MtO1o7m1fz62b9Rpm-GQQFJZJzgqMbY3ofGAAs6TosjI74vTM7xV7DNI2sko43WdIqW9SAMV1g0vIDasXZO_NfaVHh18KcpQA/s1600/curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qYR4mLaKSnIo3IcVLKFUqtifnB-YsVOUrI0Co6xE5MtO1o7m1fz62b9Rpm-GQQFJZJzgqMbY3ofGAAs6TosjI74vTM7xV7DNI2sko43WdIqW9SAMV1g0vIDasXZO_NfaVHh18KcpQA/s400/curtains.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">On to the dry bar, which we added to our breakfast area two years ago ...</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI45vQK0Fjl5ksXUGYTtpgDPduDQ-qkc0ABCLSJbs4DO1FONnwS1M8gfR8Q6S1JaDPbdpMXtui-xaHVxDIvrk0jPsKRLTjC1XCloJeUwulOhrkn7d_JpIhNhIguiAoOIWzTgZm87JVQ/s1600/drybar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI45vQK0Fjl5ksXUGYTtpgDPduDQ-qkc0ABCLSJbs4DO1FONnwS1M8gfR8Q6S1JaDPbdpMXtui-xaHVxDIvrk0jPsKRLTjC1XCloJeUwulOhrkn7d_JpIhNhIguiAoOIWzTgZm87JVQ/s400/drybar.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mtAFyeKDUEbyK2xxikzzknXmopF75JDyLLgiIx0bV-5ISvCy3XpkX1BEhjs4UVci_kuO0tLBDW7rYjd42k37eePUyaezOgFyRa83eMzxXhAbqplHebiQPF_pWG_AX0wXjMLfH0GWhg/s1600/drybar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mtAFyeKDUEbyK2xxikzzknXmopF75JDyLLgiIx0bV-5ISvCy3XpkX1BEhjs4UVci_kuO0tLBDW7rYjd42k37eePUyaezOgFyRa83eMzxXhAbqplHebiQPF_pWG_AX0wXjMLfH0GWhg/s400/drybar2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A vintage wine barrel "lazy susan" serves as a backdrop to my Southern Living tray (recently spray painted white), filled with wine bottles and corks:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpBSeXlK7qvBzwMeuoGzMnrdhD7SVMmW2IokLgs_RPBl2QreQhC-3gjvmeeM5zBWO4HbunI_8S-5Tm443a4xhyphenhyphenDlv4EG4PYOWAVV9KPjc_dp7umCf9Q9sgEjTekVux3H-M2zkopkONg/s1600/winebottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpBSeXlK7qvBzwMeuoGzMnrdhD7SVMmW2IokLgs_RPBl2QreQhC-3gjvmeeM5zBWO4HbunI_8S-5Tm443a4xhyphenhyphenDlv4EG4PYOWAVV9KPjc_dp7umCf9Q9sgEjTekVux3H-M2zkopkONg/s400/winebottles.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A fun *bling-bling* wine stopper from a great friend:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0AKuo2S8bVFAnkbwtN_AIV9AnBJJMX_T_7LEYPsubRo6s2AW1YWmqgkNDUjuVSG4mn7XdHBuDPhtlvN_-Rzl7B0YSz4UGdT6dSAfVIHG7xY_S9ZMGFFHUJx6tlQENz9V1KdFFqgxuA/s1600/cork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0AKuo2S8bVFAnkbwtN_AIV9AnBJJMX_T_7LEYPsubRo6s2AW1YWmqgkNDUjuVSG4mn7XdHBuDPhtlvN_-Rzl7B0YSz4UGdT6dSAfVIHG7xY_S9ZMGFFHUJx6tlQENz9V1KdFFqgxuA/s400/cork.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLUf78mxeIpWgf7r_DypbfOvs1QhYdoInNndjIypNOwVrZPCGklPSOW1G6wZoOZYxw2uZOKpv6z6pGx_ZsSUactrwhQ_FBpRYzJAdh5JblJy2NP7C_tUnXsZoGd2e2TB0Q8Seumepxg/s1600/glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLUf78mxeIpWgf7r_DypbfOvs1QhYdoInNndjIypNOwVrZPCGklPSOW1G6wZoOZYxw2uZOKpv6z6pGx_ZsSUactrwhQ_FBpRYzJAdh5JblJy2NP7C_tUnXsZoGd2e2TB0Q8Seumepxg/s400/glasses.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, nothing says French like fake cheeses, grapes and a "Bordeaux" cheese knife, right?  (lol)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3dgOUyWgq3mgV507_K8bpv9qNQvtUO3k2RuoPZSjXLq-1GkhOfSk-E9sn7MCtjibzkeeHsEV-aDlPZkvyi30X-bhb5lTbOJHqTzuskpYG6FtikMIrpgIiVy-rAsOkUc5ZZOV6cCUwg/s1600/cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3dgOUyWgq3mgV507_K8bpv9qNQvtUO3k2RuoPZSjXLq-1GkhOfSk-E9sn7MCtjibzkeeHsEV-aDlPZkvyi30X-bhb5lTbOJHqTzuskpYG6FtikMIrpgIiVy-rAsOkUc5ZZOV6cCUwg/s400/cheese.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, a mercury votive illuminates an apothecary jar filled with corks:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cBJsYhI_lRLYRErrvhrfZpUtGalg0-vvv31EXMvqJDJehQV_M_kULOLNrBMPGrJ34sLKpHGu2cgitQa7b9ol0XPmIEGknGDftfivq2A7_3I2GdyYDnZXI_LbI7iFMs8jjQ-8hWuIUg/s1600/corks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cBJsYhI_lRLYRErrvhrfZpUtGalg0-vvv31EXMvqJDJehQV_M_kULOLNrBMPGrJ34sLKpHGu2cgitQa7b9ol0XPmIEGknGDftfivq2A7_3I2GdyYDnZXI_LbI7iFMs8jjQ-8hWuIUg/s400/corks.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love seeing the sunlight stream in again!  We've had *enough* of the rain!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIenFduGSnXhlaY-hWM3IeyxVeEJAMhq8fyOkk-mZ2S91wRz9PBWES-KGon0ostzNlozTI8cAryqmHlNo-QvwsYswMYSQroh2tJJQV0_TF0GI6x-t3eshv13V3T4c6mbuPe8wYPlK3EQ/s1600/wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIenFduGSnXhlaY-hWM3IeyxVeEJAMhq8fyOkk-mZ2S91wRz9PBWES-KGon0ostzNlozTI8cAryqmHlNo-QvwsYswMYSQroh2tJJQV0_TF0GI6x-t3eshv13V3T4c6mbuPe8wYPlK3EQ/s400/wine.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2iQPPgARBPsydSgtGLD5XymBUhSjQojBoE9TAlMzniOYQmjCfpiGbw0znGxzawSKvKLn0QsABbUXA3ghS4zsaP2MaTGg93GlLnJiX7iqOfjJAtnqwFucnsriOT8oItmkXYUmZQ3y3w/s1600/centerpiece3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2iQPPgARBPsydSgtGLD5XymBUhSjQojBoE9TAlMzniOYQmjCfpiGbw0znGxzawSKvKLn0QsABbUXA3ghS4zsaP2MaTGg93GlLnJiX7iqOfjJAtnqwFucnsriOT8oItmkXYUmZQ3y3w/s400/centerpiece3.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great day!  I'm off to continue another project that I look forward to sharing with you ...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwvVN4zw7bvzVvT4pHKLw1XkEQwXgxcDqihbly-S4MuXSnqWoG6Tij6GZxMWwf6UdzVJRF_RIjY7kaZ3bch-UvnJGEsgVw8am7EPQIpLZ4qn03xI9whh2jIhz-AqZXDM-ACyeNP4l5g/s1600/bookcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwvVN4zw7bvzVvT4pHKLw1XkEQwXgxcDqihbly-S4MuXSnqWoG6Tij6GZxMWwf6UdzVJRF_RIjY7kaZ3bch-UvnJGEsgVw8am7EPQIpLZ4qn03xI9whh2jIhz-AqZXDM-ACyeNP4l5g/s400/bookcase.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks for stopping by!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm off to play at fun parties ... please join me!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/04/amaze-me-monday-19.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">BTOTP/<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/04/some-little-updates-around-here-welcome.html">Metamorphosis Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/04/tuesdays-treasures.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia+%28My+Uncommon+Slice+of+Suburbia%29">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Stroll Thru Life/<a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/04/59th-table-top-tuesday-heart-of-home.html">Tabletop Tuesday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">DIY by Design/<a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/swing-into-spring-its-party-10.html">Swing into Spring</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/04/chalk-paint-love-and-wow-us-wednesdays.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Elements Interiors/<a href="http://www.elements-interiors.net/2011/04/whassup-wednesday.html">Whassup Wednesday</a></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>Becca</em></span></div></div>

Come Gather at Our Table ...

The breakfast area ... a/k/a my *office* ... the spot where I pay the bills for my brothers' surf shop ... the spot where I blog ... and...

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