~ Peace On Earth ~ Merry Christmas

~Let there be Peace on Earth~

From our home
to yours,
Merry Christmas
Donna

~ White & Silver Christmas Mystic Centerpiece - Inspired by Mythic Nest Anthropologie

In 2009 Anthropologie showed a fabulous item they called the Mythic Nest Tree topper. It did look like the fairies might have created it. I totally missed it in 2009 and all the knock-offs it had in Blogland. After seeing it a few weeks ago, my searching led me to the company which had actually made it for the store, and

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~ Christmas Tree Sparkle

The lights dance so lovely at night.
Lots of tiny lights on the Christmas tree,
and they spill over to the shimmering mantel
that shines with its own glow
of lights with silver and Mercury glass.

Even during the day time
when the sun shines
through the windows
creating light and shadows
across the walls and fireplace too,

the lights of the Christmas tree
are always magical.

See Y'All Soon~
Donna

~ Christmas Mantel Decorations 2011

It's been several Christmases since the beauty of Mercury glass caught my eye. I don't think I'll get tired of it anytime soon. It's wonderful to use all year round, but it really is beautiful at Christmas with all the lights shimmering off of it.

I wanted to keep it as simple as possible this year. In the past we have enjoyed different traditional Christmas colors in this room and on the mantel, but it is mostly white and silver this time. And lots of tiny lights.

Sometime during the past year I found the Mercury glass crown and the decanter knowing that they would be a welcome addition to the other decorations at Christmas. Still everything else was from years past. Using not only what we had, but using a lot less.

I've found many ways to decorate with the large Mercury glass tree each holiday season. I've seen some smaller ones being displayed this year and it's difficult not to look a few of those to go with the big one. So far so good.....

If you have been by previously, you probably know this is a faux fireplace with an antique fire insert that we created several years ago. I always love it, but at Christmas maybe just a little bit more. Thanks for stopping by and sharing Christmas.

See Y'All Soon~
Donna

~ Christmas Beads & Baubles

I have been quite determined to do the Christmas decorating slowly this year and enjoy the process and each day. So instead of waiting and posting lots of pictures all at once, I'm showing little bits at a time. We bought the tree

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~ Celebrating the Days of Christmas

At first I thought there might be more color in the Christmas decorating this year. But even after opening the boxes of goodies, it was still the beauty of simple white and silver that was chosen again this year. I tried to make no new purchases, but I did find this pretty greenery with a little faux snow that is the perfect complement to the mercury glass and baubles.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... fa la la la la.

See Y'All Soon~
Donna

~ Shiny & Brite - White Christmas Decorating

The box says shiny and brite, but it is the dulled and aged patina that makes these old ornaments so interesting. The silver bell in the corner is from another treasure hunt, and it's the only one I've ever found. They all seem kind of special all mixed in with the other ornaments.

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~ Give Thanks

A very Happy Day of ThanksGiving
to You and Your Families!

See Y'All Soon~
Donna

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~ Antiqued Old White Chalk Paint With Paris Grey Accents

Antiqued Old White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

with Paris Gray, and Raw Umber.

This is either the 4th or 5th incarnation for this wood frame. I'm not sure if it was just a frame or a mirror originally. It is solid wood, heavy and ready for a whole new decorating direction.

In the picture above you saw it in its last redo. It had been black and gold before this and was then repainted to go nicely with the turquoise French dresser that was in the same room holding art supplies. I kept the toile cover in the middle which went with both the previous decorating.

This is how it looks today. Newly painted, on freshly painted walls in a different room to be used for more creating and art.

For this project I used the Annie Sloan chalk paints again, for a couple of reasons. First of all I had the paints, and I knew they were the right colors to complement the wall color I had just painted in here. I also painted a small French style china cupboard - hutch, and the frame was painted to go well with it.

Secondly, the chalk paint covers very well, and there were different kinds of paints on the frame including some metallic. The chalk paint covered it all without much fuss. A big plus not to have to prime.

I began with the white paint which is mostly Old White chalk paint. Everything was painted white to cover all the old color.

The inset area is Paris Gray, which has been lightly antiqued.

Antiquing was done with a combination of raw umber and a little Paris Gray added to it to soften the dark color.

At the end, I did some dry brushing as the last step with a mix of flat white and the Old White.

It hasn't had any wax applied yet, but it will later.

See Y'all Soon~

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~ Happy Halloween

This year some of my own art found its way to the mantel for Halloween decorating. Beau Bunny Rabbit the Bandito is waiting for the Snickers. They are hidden so he doesn't eat them all before the kids come trick or treating. He is also a bit scared of spiders, and these are big enough to scare anybody. He is however being brave with the promise of chocolate soon to be consumed.

On the other side is my sweet little Izabella dressed as a little witch. I love the face of this little Victorian girl so much. It would be so interesting to know if she was always able to keep her wonderful spunky personality as she grew up in a time so difficult to be a strong woman.

Hope you have a wonderful Halloween~
See Y'all Soon~

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~ Halloween Decorating ~ Vintage Jack O' Lantern

This wonderful Jack O Lantern was created by an artist about 1980 or so. I love it because it is a fun handmade pottery piece, and it always makes me smile. It's a special treat to set it out each year and enjoy it again and again.

One of the ravens met an untimely end to his decorating career. Cody Bear found one and thought it looked like a good chew toy. The other ravens and crows will have to sing Halloween songs without him this year.

See Y'all Soon~

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~ Halloween Decorating ~ Mini Pumpkin Topiary

There were about a dozen pumpkins of various sizes that were very close to on their way out the door to Goodwill or some other place. At first there didn't seem to be much to do with them since they were in colors not likely to used by me again. They haven't even been unpacked in while since the last few years most of the pumpkins inside were white.

When I brought my favorite peachy colored pumpkin out to display for the season, I was wishing I had a couple of others that were the same color. And I was really longing for one of those beautiful gray blue ones. So out came the paint!

This little topiary was just perfect for Halloween when I wanted a little color beyond the black and white. The top pumpkin and bottom one are painted faux pumpkins. The middle one is a real one that I got to compare the look and color of the white ones that I painted too.

This is what some of the pumpkins looked like before. The yellow and green ones are now painted either white or that wonderful blue color that I added to the mix this year. They are the ceramic type and they paint really well. I used chalk paint on them and it adhered well. Fusion paint would work, too. The little ones are foam, and they can be painted with either kind of paint, and some craft paints will cover them.

The Halloween mantel is dressed with books from the 1800's, with little glitter spiders exploring their covers. They are topped with another painted ceramic gourd that was once green.

See Y'all Soon~

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~ Halloween Decorating in Black & White with Mercury Glass

The Mercury glass pumpkins are going to get plenty of use this season. The last couple of years I had meant to get them, but they were sold out by the time I got by PB. This year I found them at Wisteria and they are the perfect addition to the other Mercury glass pieces around here.



The small white pumpkin was a ceramic one which originally was green & yellow. It was painted with a combo of Chalk Paint and some flat white paint, so that it was a bit whiter in the end, but still aged and chalky looking.

The books are quite old and the top one being so tattered adds fun to the mix. The vellum one on the bottom is Italian from the 1600's and came from 3 Fine Grains. She has beautiful books and other goodies!

The dish the big pumpkin is sitting on is a silver type serving platter with inlaid of white mother of pearl and black that echos the same colors as the black marble table top.

The monogram I created on the computer and then printed it out on paper, sealed it and adhered it to the pumpkin.

The little black pumpkin got a fresh coat of paint as well. It is the kind that probably came in a whole bag of little foam pumpkins that you can find at the craft store. At first it was painted with Fusion black flat paint. I still like how well that paint covers and seals. But for a fresh coat, I used Patio Paints flat black which is a great paint for coverage as well, and the black is quite flat.

This seemed the perfect time to add a touch of burlap. The contrast of burlap with marble, white, and mercury glass is such a fun twist to Halloween decorating!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing this fun season with me.
See Y'all Soon~

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~ Halloween Decorating

The entry table is decked out in pumpkins and Mercury glass. The glass ones from Wisteria that I showed in the last post have moved to the entry table. Not sure where they might go when Halloween is done and a little more fall decorating is in order.

I snapped one quick picture so I could feel like progress was going on. I love seeing how people decorate for such a fun holiday. Stop by this week and catch more of Halloween here. Just for the kid in all of us. Especially those who are waiting (im)patiently for the Snickers to arrive.

See Y'all Soon~

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~ Fall Mantel Decorating at The Decorated House

Even way down south, we will soon be thinking about cooler weather and enjoying time inside. Not quite yet, it's still very warm. So decorating for Fall helps get you in the mood for when the sweaters are needed.

The Mercury glass pumpkins reflect light and add a delightful sparkle to the Fall mantel. I also added some vintage silver pieces and one real mini white pumpkin along with two lightly colored gourds. The shapes of the gourds mimic the tall Mercury glass one that is part of the pumpkin trio.

One vintage sliver tray, one real mini white pumpkin/gourd, an almost rusty Fleur De Lis, and a wonderful rustic fall colored gourd. Shapes, colors and textures all playing so nicely together.

The Mercury glass also is the perfect complement to the silver and glass vase, now topped with another Fall colored gourd.

I am eager to get around and see all the Fall decorating in BlogLand.

See Y'All Soon
~ Donna

~ Free Fall Autumn Halloween Download

Hello~

It's still paint, paint and more paint around here. But I think I see a resting spot soon. And I'm eager to finish a little Fall decorating and relax a bit while checking out all the Autumn fun on other blogs.

Until then.... enjoy this wonderful vintage image to use in your Fall & Halloween Decor~

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Happy Fall!

This is time of the year that is certainly a favorite for many people. And there are so many reasons why. Not the least of which is the wonderful, fun holiday Halloween.


Here is a free to copy and use vintage image that I hope gets you in the mood for the happy holidays just ahead. This would make cute gift tags and cards, but it would be so fun on guest towels for the bath, too. Just print in reverse on iron-on transfer paper.

See Y'All Soon~
Donna

~ Sunday ~

~ Sunday, September 11, 2011 ~


~ Peace ~

~ Is Chalk Paint Worth The Price? And A Few More Tips

So as you wander around looking at the fabulous makeovers, you are thinking that you might give this ol' chalk paint stuff a whirl. Then you see the price, especially if you have to pay shipping! It's high enough if you can find a local source, but by the time you add shipping it is really expensive.

** Please note if you are not familiar with these paints, it is NOT "chalkboard" paint that you buy at the craft store.

Here are some of your questions from the last post:

Why did you start using chalk?

At first I was looking for milk paint. It has been many years since I used it, but remember the dull, chalky old look of it. But instead, I wound up finding Annie Sloan Chalk paint. And the hype was pretty darn good. I doubted it was that much different than regular flat latex paint. And it is and isn't.
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Could you have done most of your projects with a cheaper paint and still been pleased with the outcome?

Mostly yes, but there were times when regular paint would not have given the same finish.

Flat and matte finish paints will sand off or distress, but not as well as the chalk paint.

How about the blue mirror in the last post, was the chalk paint that important?

Yes. This is the first time that I found the paint and wax made a huge difference.
The mirror finish came about due to the properties of the chalk paint.
There was a play between the paints and the wax that would not have been the same while painting, nor looked the same with afterwards by using paints and a paste wax.
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Is the wax a lot less work than paste wax?

Not to me. But others have said it did not take a lot of buffing for them.
To me, I had to put some buffing elbow grease into it anytime I've used the AS wax.
It has been a while since I used the paste wax on a large project, but I do remember it is work. And worth it, just as the AS wax is.
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When you use a damp rag to wipe off the paint or excess, is the paint still wet, or do you let it dry first?

This one depends.

When doing an antique glazing, you apply the glaze, and quickly wipe off the excess. Usually a glaze is darker than your base paint color, and you need a damp cloth to get the excess off. Often quickly because the glaze pigment can stain the areas you don't want glazed or darkened. So when working with a glaze, wipe it off before it dries.

With the chalk paint, you want it to set up and be more dry if you are using the damp cloth to distress it. Don't wipe too soon, or too much will come off. Wait until it dries too much, and it is just more work, but it will still come off. A kitchen scrubby works wonders if it gets dry before you get back to it. But again, the scrubby and the cloth will give you slightly different looks.
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Where do you get this gosh darn expensive stuff?

Because they have a flat rate shipping fee by the amount you spend and the per quart price is the lowest anyone has, try Robyn Story Designs. If you live near Tampa, FL you can save the shipping. But otherwise, she is often less expensive for the shipping fee than ordering even in your own state. Shipping is often expensive and will vary site to site.
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Is it worth the high price?

The paint is about $35 a quart, and often runs another $10+ shipping depending how many cans your order. It is usually cheaper to buy more than one can at a time.
There is the huge advantage of being able to paint without much prep. Just clean the item well, and start painting. No sanding or primer usually. Than in itself is the reason most people think it is worth the price after using it.
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~ Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Blues - Distressed & Waxed

Somewhere I had read Annie Sloan talk about working with the chalk paints and waxes to get a different look. So this was an experiment. The finished look is really worth the work.

The old mirror in it original dull gold finish just didn't work, so it was the perfect candidate for playing with the paints and wax. I do like the shape of it though.

The first color was the bright Provence, and then that was mixed with  Paris Grey. Some areas of the Provence were left to show a bit more. Next white was dry brushed on.

This is what it looked like with just using a damp cotton rag to rub off some of the paint. It was a good look even at this point.

Next I went back and forth with dry brushing the white paint, letting it almost dry and then waxing it until the paint began to come off, then painting again, and wiping that off in some places. Dark wax was applied next, it was buffed, some places got another dry brushing, then the clear wax was applied and buffed last. You just play with it and see how your piece looks with each step until you get what you want for yourself.

In the end, it looked like a very old, time worn finish. A really beautiful look!

**The paints used in the post are "Annie Sloan Chalk Paints" not to
be confused with chalkboard paint, but they may
have somethings in common.

See Y'All Soon~