Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

Are you ready for the New Year?  I'm getting excited as I plan to retire from my job on March 31st.  I'll have over 24 years, but will turn 60 in March and want to be home with my hubby who is already retired.  We look forward to being able to go to our home in South Georgia and not have to come back so quickly so I can go to work. I packed away all the decorations the day after Christmas and shopped the house to get a different look.  I am happy with the changes.  See what you think. I changed to my drop cloth ( need to iron it)!  I used white dishes (Wal Mart), the gold chargers from Dollar Tree, my stainless (40 pieces $10.00 at Santa Consignment Sale), glasses, Fred's $1.00, each, the white candle sticks that were once green, silver grapes are ornaments, napkin rings from Good Will, the urn is a consignment shop find.  I already had the greenery, roses, etc.  The green holly stuck in the napkin rings came from a silk bush...

Today I am sharing a few of the projects I did in 2011.  I put away all the Christmas decorations on Monday since I had to go back to work on Tuesday.  The house feels less cluttered.  On to the projects.............. Put chicken wire in the jelly cupboard. Painted the wire chicken white. Tried my hand at using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax. More Annie Sloan Made this lamp shade cover from burlap and eyelet trim. Gave this little table a much needed face lift using Annie Sloan Paint. Spray painted and distressed this old table. Painted and distressed this candle holder (was brass and UGLY) Again using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax Again used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to update this mirror, formerly black. Made a drop cloth table runner trimmed in burlap ribbon. Guess what I used to update a pair of cupids?  Annie Sloan! Made a coffee filter wreath. Changed this chalk topi...

Wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year!

I've had this chalk-like topiary for several years.   I have used it in several rooms of our home . I decided I'd like to change it this year. So out came the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Olde White.   The topiary required no preparation. I painted the entire piece with ASCP, added some dark AS wax, and this is the result. I chose not to completely cover it in paint so it only took a minute or two to brush it on. After giving it a few minutes to dry, I brushed the wax on, wiped the whole thing down and viola! I tied a simple Christmas ribbon around it and am enjoying the change.  By painting it this way, it reminds me of how snow looks on the shrubbery. Hope you have a wonderful day. I'll be partying at the homes of these gracious ladies: The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday 2805 for Potpourri Friday

I love cupids.  They just speak to me.  There's something gentle and peaceful about them, romantic, pure.   They are appropriate decor for Valentine's, Christmas, and any season of the year.  As you can see, I use them in so many different ways.   I bought a pair of these a few years ago at Kirklands for about $4.95 each.  They were a brassy gold color until I dry-brushed Annie Sloan Old White on them.  I think this aged them perfectly.  They look as though they have been in the weather for a while.   This is where they hang in the sun room.   Here's the other half of the pair.     I also have a pair of these that are resting on the mantel now. . A favorite consignment find.   I hope you've enjoyed seeing how one type item can be used in different ways. Joining in the festivities at 1929 Charmer for Sunday's Best  House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday. You're all invited too!

Since we have no snow and no promise of any.... (62 degrees), I'll just have to be satisfied enjoying my snowmen collection.  I never thought about collecting them.  But I just gathered them together and I have quite a few. This handsome guy was a gift this week from a co-worker. He's also a cookie jar. Here's the whole gang, corralled in this thrifty tray.  Aren't they adorable?  The tall guy on the far left was found yesterday at my favorite consignment shop. He is heavy!  For $6.00, he was calling to me.  I passed him up once, but before I got out of the store, he yelled one more time and I gave in.  I'll introduce the back row now. Left to right, 1st up is Daddy Snow, next is Mom Snow, and  the 'hefty' one on the right is Grandmother Snow.  She's dressed in her kerchief.  All those little guys in the front,  that's the Snow children.  Goodness, that's a lot of kids to put through college.  Hope they win the lot...