A Southern Belle with Northern Roots

a little love for the armoire- would you paint these update #2

2012-02-11T09:00:00.003-06:00

The next update from the Would you paint these post is the armoire. I have to say I had only tinkered with the thought of painting this piece, y'all said paint it! so I did and I absolutely love it!

Before with the door and without.

After
I used a slightly off white called diamonds and pearls with a green that I found on the returns. It was cheap and the color dab on top looked nice....as it turns out I really like it but I can't tell you what it is called. I then spray painted the hardware with an enamel paint for metals in an off white.

Although I am keeping the door off for now I did paint it, white around the border with the green on the inner panels, it looks wonderful too, but I love the open look for now.

It is resting well in the bedroom, it has a calming effect for me. Is that weird?

blessings and thanks for visiting

Pinterest Made Me Do It- Home made laundry soap and window cleaner

2012-02-10T11:15:00.000-06:00

After seeing the home made laundry soap circulating around and then hearing my step mom Rachel try it and love it.....I decided to go ahead and make it! Evidently so did everyone else because Walmart tends to be out of some of the ingredients pretty regularly.
Here is what you need.
1 4 lb box baking soda
1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax
1 3 lb 7 oz box Arm & Hammer washing soda
3 bars Fels Naptha soap
1-2 jars (about 3lbs) of an oxy cleaner

Grate Fels soap

Mix in remaining ingredients. Store in airtight container. You only need a small amount in your wash, approx 1-2 heaping Tablespoons and if you have an HE washer, add it to the barrel not the dispenser. You can see more on this from this site, where my original pin on Pinterest was found.
Being Creative- Laundry soap

Side note- I accidentally bought and extra bar of Fels soap....that or I cannot count to 3.
I have used it as a stain remover by wetting the bar and rubbing on stains. I am completely sold on it and love the results so go ahead and pick up an extra bar it is only about a dollar.

Now onto the window cleaner, this link is great in that she made and tested several options and liked this one best, I think it works very good myself
.
Crunchy Betty's Review of home made glass cleaners

Mix (and I wrote it on the bottle for next time)
2 c warm water
1/4 c vinegar
1/4 c rubbing alcohol
1 Tbs cornstarch
Shake well each time you use.

ok so I also saw a great missing sock board and had to make one, I already had a frame in which I had painted the glass in chalk paint, so I just glued a couple clothes pins.

Have a great day pinning!

blessings and thanks for visiting

White Vignettes and a Pinterest Puff

2012-02-07T13:42:00.000-06:00

what is the problem with Pinterest?
waste of time or inspiration?
inspiration or jealous fits of I need that!
I need that or I simply must have it!

One of the best pins I have seen is the one that says Pinterest is like getting a new magazine in the mail every day. That is what I would call it, new inspiration and recipes every day. I think it actually helps me get my rear in gear and get going. I also saw a comment where it was said Pinterest will be the end of blogging. NOT! I have to disagree with that. What I love most about Pinterest is how so many (most) link directly to a blog, with step by step instructions. Now..will that increase followers? Probably not but definitely blog traffic. It has consistently been in the top 5 referrals for me.

I tend to forget most of the projects I hope to do, but once a week I actually go back to a board of my own and look at what I have pinned, then try to do one! I know.....never an end to motivation! This is the best thing about pinning, at anytime you can go back and "remember" what it is you like and want to do, to bake, or your favorite decorating ideas. This is a flower ball, via Pinterest that I wanted to try as a possible wedding idea for my daughter. I used a 5 inch ball, lots of hot glue and about 500 mini cupcake liners. I placed two liners together and twisted then glued around the ball, try to keep them straight up, I found I was beginning to angle mine to much which left an odd shape in places. If you find a spot that is a little light...just fill it in later.

I think it is actually quite a fun little touch.

I can go into any room with a vintage feel, and could be done in any color or color combo.

Sometimes the simplest little touch adds so much, like the old spool with a tape measure wrapped around it. Saw it , pinned it, did it...done!

Joining
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Under the Table and Dreaming

blessings and thanks for visiting

Would you paint this update, dresser

2012-02-05T20:10:00.003-06:00

A while ago I did a post asking your opinion on painting some pieces, thanks so much for everyone's response. I decided to do a moderate update on this dresser, it was the one I was most torn on, partly because the way this awful top looked, (this piece was actually rescued curbside) partly because my grandma had a dresser just like this in her bedroom! Hers was in excellent shape and had the lovely scrolled wood and mirror on top. I remember looking into that mirror and digging in those drawers, even when I wasn't suppose to. She had a straw flower that hung on it from one year on vacation, and that mirror reflected photos of her grandchildren on an opposing wall, in my mind I can still pass by that room and see her nodding off to a book.

What to do about that top...... I chipped away at the water damaged chunks that came up easily, then...problem, the laminate that was still adhered, didn't want to budge. So, it was either scrape till I went crazy or ......putty.

After drying and sanding, I went with decoupaging old sheet music, using the same mix of Elmers glue and water as I did on the closet door in the Uber Shabby room. I then top coated with two layers of polyurethane.

A few new knobs and a little bit of paint in the right places made it a little less drab.

Most of you said not to paint it because of the wonderful patina and you were right. I do like the compromise and think I can live with it now. I cannot wait to show you the next piece from that post, which is the amour, I absolutely love the way it worked out!

Joining
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Hoar Frost- Serene

2012-02-04T10:51:00.001-06:00

Peaceful

crisp

Delicate

Serene

Winter's beauty

Outdoor Wednesday

blessings and thanks for visiting

Vignette a Day, Man Style

2012-02-02T09:00:00.004-06:00

There has to be some guy friendly vignettes in the house right? Like a guy even knows what a vignette is (pfft) anyway, there should be that space where a guy can be a man! I know one poor fella that lives in a house surrounded by dolls and fufu! Nothing else, can you even imagine, I cannot. A long time ago I read somewhere that women tend to take over the house (as if) and men don't really appreciate living in floral. I think that is an accurate statement, look around your house....if you share it with a man...does it reflect his personality too? If not you may be guilty of a floralpaisleyfemininefauxpaux. yep....it really does exist!

I think some of us are blessed with an appreciation for manly things. Some of us women like dirt, rust, weathered wood and the smell of must. Not that men are dirty or rusty or weathered and smelly.........
anyway, I am one of them, the oil cans and burlap are mine!! I let him borrow them for his space.

I also put up his paddle fish photo! so he has something to ~~brag~~ talk about.

But here....I will brag on him a little (pay no attention to the dust) I just found these lost treasures, which explains the dust, years ago my dad taught my husband how to weld up these little men, they used to sit out then got put away for a time, now....they have been discovered in the bottom of a chest and have proudly been displayed! This is a mardi gras parade!

A man ice fishing, the little fish head is coming out of the hole in the ice, he has a cooler full of refreshing orange juice next to him. If you have no idea what ice fishing is.....bless you!

Now for the hunter and his faithful dog...........

blasting a pheasant to pieces.

Can you smell the manliness?

Just a side note, here in ND it is very light in the winter, just last week after a fresh snow it literally glowed, this is out the door at 11:30 PM, with no lights on and no flash, it was this light out! cool huh?

Joining Creative Things Thursday

blessings and thanks for visiting

Flour Sack Giveaway Winner

2012-02-01T09:52:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Mystica! the winner of the flour sack giveaway!! Please email me with your address.

blessings and thanks for visiting

Vignette a Day, Vintage Jars and Graters

2012-02-01T09:00:00.002-06:00

Day 3 of vignette a day brings vintage ball jars with a peculating coffee pot and tea pot resting on the mantle.

I found this chart for dating ball jars on PINTEREST!
What fun it has been checking them. I am about 50/50 in the 1923-1933 and 1933-1960 jars. I have a few others that are not Ball brand that I have no clue but would guess a similar age. Since these jars can tend to run high I consider myself very fortunate to have never paid more than $1 for a jar or 50 cents for a metal lid.

Across the room is my collection of graters and my wonderful cast iron casserole dishes.

One last kitchen display where more jars rest with other little finds, like an old scale, an enamel ware pot, and vintage flower sifter and potato mashers.

Just makes me smile!!

OPen House Party
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Feathered Nest Friday

blessings and thanks for visiting

Vignette a Day, Wood and Faux Flowers

2012-01-31T10:00:00.001-06:00

You may recognize this piece from the Would You Paint These Post? You will be happy to know I took everyone's advice and will NOT paint this piece, I think that is good since this piece and I (and another man) have a history. You may read about that HERE if you like.

Atop my desk because of the window placements I am unable to get very good shots, so excuse the over edited photos.

This is perhaps the best view with natural light. What is your feeling about using faux flowers? Love em, hate em or eh! what ever? I have mixed feelings myself. I think there are many that have a natural look to them now, certainly a big improvement over the years when I worked at a Ben Franklin store and we sold red, white and yellow plastic pretties! Yikes!

Opposite the desk with the above vignette is this little corner, Not much function but a sweet little spot none the less.

blessings and thanks for visiting

Vignette a Day, Silver, Chickens and Crates

2012-01-30T14:54:00.000-06:00

I am giving myself a "Vignette a Day" challenge. You see I keep taking photos of my vignettes, then more photos and soon my camera is full and I haven't posted any! So I am going to try to bombard you with some around the house photos this week. In the dining/kitchen I often use crates. There is just something about the worn wood that makes me feel comforted. A little silver, some old wood and a burlap coffee bag start the bottom of the stack.

Next layer has a touch more silver, the crate is a little "newer" but still the vintage feel.

Top layer finishes with one last silver goblet, a vintage muffin tin with candles and a whatchamecallit on top! Next to it you will see a ammo box with lovely dove tail joints. It is in amazing condition and a couple years ago I found it at a garage sale for only $2. I absolutely love it and have only seen a couple since, in much worse condition for a much higher price. I believe it is one of my "best and favorite" finds.

I also bought the little tin box with metal flowers on clearance at Hobby Lobby and it has become my new recipe box!

Joining
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blessings and thanks for visiting

Scrapbook winner- One final day to enter Flour Sack Giveaway!

2012-01-30T08:58:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Jen of Nena's Gaze! You are the winner of the My Memories digital scrapbook giveaway!!! I will contact you via email or your blog.
Also you have the rest of today to enter the flour sack giveaway. A winner for that will be drawn tomorrow morning!

blessings and thanks for visiting

Would You Paint These?

2012-01-25T12:03:00.000-06:00

My husband hates painted wood. There I said it and it is on record. Now for the important part. My dear sweet readers, would you paint these? I would love your comment and color opinion on each piece, I will number them and give a description of rooms they are in to help you.

1- just a wood tool/cutlery tray, this would not be stationary and could be moved without notice to any room!

2- dresser, is in my bedroom which is shabby white

3- Armour- also in shabby white bedroom - with and without door, I am in desperate need of some garage sale time for some new quilts/linens!!

4- This thing- It is storage and very handy as many people tend to sit on it, so it is the storage/sit upon/ place to put your crap/ and place to put your shoes on when you can no longer stand and balance on one foot. It really needs some sort of makeover.

excuse the shelf, it is still in decorating transition. This multipurpose unit sits right as you come in the door in the living room which is done in a beige and deep terra cotta with white trim.
Please help me out with your advice, and pay no attention to the man's advice.

so I say....they should not give decorating advice either.

blessings and thanks for visiting

Pillows and Flour Sack Giveaway

2012-01-24T12:50:00.001-06:00

Are you head over heels for pillows? I have come across a few bloggers that are, I am not. Outside of my favorite pillows for a good nights sleep that is. I like pillows but I am not a big collector, in fact you will see more large regular pillows on this bed than the fufu variety. Still when shopping at Hobby Lobby last week I saw this place mat, I do really like the French feel of some but they tend to be quite expensive and as of yet the only French script fabric I can find here is $24 a yard. The Bon Appetit place mat was only $5 with 30% off in the new Spring collection. Bonus...It is double sided, heavy material that easily opens up to be stuffed!

With ease I opened a small section of the seem and placed a bag of polyfill inside, restitched it up and boom!

I purchased a couple flour sacks at a Pride of Dakota showcase, unused and open at one end. Easy again to simply stuff and stitch. These flour sacks can also be used for aprons, curtains etc for a farm house feel in your kitchen.
If you would like to win one of the flour sacks and a set of 4 vintage napkins/handkerchiefs (not exactly sure which they are) just leave a comment below!
~while your here be sure and look over the giveaway for a $40 value digital scrapbooking program that ends Jan 30! Only two people have entered so far...which means great odds, I am not sure why people have not entered....perhaps digital scrapbooking is a intimidating thing? I don't know, all I can say is it is an easy to use program so check it out.~

You can win this! Just leave a comment below, if you do not have profile be sure and leave your email address for contact. If I have no way of contacting you another winner will be drawn. Winner drawn Feb 1 and announced that morning!

Bonus entry-
Become a facebook fan of Southern Belle Northern Roots
Tell others about this giveaway via your blog, or facebook

blessings and thanks for visiting

Copy Cat Door Knobs

2012-01-22T08:00:00.011-06:00

Seeing these wonderful painted door knobs in the latest Country Living magazine inspired me to paint a couple of my own.

I also love the look of old wood and decided to mount them onto an old board. This meant I had to drag out the chop saw in the January weather, It just happened to be around 30 degrees so I put my flannel shirt on and pretended I was some hearty magnificent pioneer woman out cutting wood. Reality check
Chop saw
30 degrees
fufu project
Not really that magnificent

My door knobs are not as ornate as those in Country Living but I love them anyway.

I used the other style for a towel holder in my Vintage Bath. That reflection in the mirror is the side of the room that has had several pins on Pinterest and a few features on other blogs!

I am joining Debbie for her Copy Cat challenge.

White Wednesday
Kiss - Tatterd Tag
blessings and thanks for visiting

Wine Bottle Wall Rack

2012-01-18T13:21:00.001-06:00

Saving some of my favorite wine bottles because of shape or color and because I saw something like this on .....Pinterest! I made my own wall art. I love this as a vase but it will also be good for starting plants, much preferred to the glass jar on the counter.

I purchased two rake holders at a local hardware store, because I didn't want the silver color I spray painted with a more neutral tan color, use enamel paint. I then mounted them onto a rustic piece of wood and filled with water and flowers.

easy project! and an excuse to drink a glass of wine shh!

Joining Funky Junk
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Open House Party
Vintage Farmhouse

blessings and thanks for visiting

Countertop Paint Before and After- Review

2012-01-18T12:31:00.000-06:00

We have just finished painting our countertops with Rust-oleum countertop paint. I have mixed reviews of this product and will try to be as honest as possible. The cost of the paint is $20.00 for the 29 oz can. We used two, the instructions say one can will cover 25 linear feet.

We had laminate counter about 11 or 12 years old, with a few nicks and chips but over all good condition, I had just grown tired of the hunter green.

Before

before

We have a long counter with a flat top stove and then a large breakfast bar that wraps around, two cans did cover this amount, exactly.

The product says no primer is needed and you only need to sand if you have a glossy finish. We washed well and wiped down with alcohol, let dry completely and taped off edges and sink etc.

This product goes on very thin so you will need a minimum 3 coats.
Some photos are a little dark but I left them unedited so you could see exactly what I see. Please click directly on photos to enlarge if you need to.

This is the look of the finished surface....when all goes well.

That being said...when all does not go well you may and or will encounter these problems.

Negative Side
This paint stinks! I don't mean a little it smells absolutely toxic. We unfortunately did not know this and it is January in North Dakota which meant we could not ventilate well enough. Do this in the Spring or Summer if your anywhere North of the Mason Dixon line!! We did run the vent fan, a regular fan and burn candles.....no kidding the candle flames burned 3 inches high...which meant we were probably high too. It STINKS! I highly recommend you do not use this product if you have small children in the house.

Next problem....if you mess up this paint is absolutely unforgivable. You can not touch up without it being noticeable. Normally when you go back to touch up paint it will blend with the surrounding area, not so with this paint, it doesn't like you to mess with it when it is wet and if it is dry you will see the touch up area. Now...we had a major problem, the first roller we tried was a smaller, fine foam roller recommended for use, we even asked the paint desk for help picking it out. It did work but dragged leaving a "drag" look, which after the layers went away and was fine...but HUMAN error enter...we switched to a larger foam roller. My husband was quite fed up with the smell the dry time and the drag so this roller did not function as well and in fact for some unknown reason did not like one area of the counter and began to bubble the paint. Small air bubbles formed and we couldn't roll them out because the paint is thin in appearance but thick and sticky, just plain difficult to work with. It would not fix. We left it and continued the process hoping it would "pop" on its own or cover somehow.

No! after 12 hours of dry time we tried to blend in some with a brush, which only left more marks. This is what the area looks like and in the right light is shows up like a blinking banner saying "look at this crappy paint job!"

ugh!!!!! need I tell you how irritating this is?

When the light changes the visibility of the spot goes away but the different texture does not.

When all goes well it is an acceptable product. It has a 3 day dry time till it cures and I recommend more because when I placed something on it 4 hours short of that dry time...I got a couple divots. yep!

Now I love the color, this is Canvas . The product comes in two options and one is for light tints and one is for dark, there is a large variety of color to choose from.
I cannot recommend nor not recommend this product. I can only give you a summary of what Not to do and what I would recommend you should do.
1. It smells so bad and I believe should have a much heftier warning on the label. Leave the house for a while if you can and only do when you can ventilate well!
2. Use a small find foam roller and be patient, I recommend 4 thin coats which means this will take longer but do NOT rush it and do NOT go too thick!
3. Go ahead and give your surface a light sanding and clean it well, even though not recommended I think it would improve your results.
4. Resist the urge to touch up,work in large areas and keep any needed touch ups very discreet.
5.Increase your dry time to 4 days.
6. When removing tape, run a razor along edge and remove slowly, only use tape made for painting.
7.If you are a perfectionist....stay away from this product.

So what are we going to do about this bad spot....We have decided when we are up for another intoxicating day we will sand it minimally, and place anther thin coat over the top of the entire bottom section. Not excited about that but what else can we do. Until that time, I will look at it only in good lighting and I will drown my frustrations in chocolate cake!

blessings and thanks for visiting

Man Cave

2012-01-13T20:46:00.000-06:00

Enter the man cave

I really never would have thought having his own room would have meant so much to my husband until his room was done...and whenever I want to find him......guess where he is?

vintage ammo...well old stuff, sounds cooler if you call it vintage

This past summer I found a great trunk for just a dollar! It now serves as a sofa table and stores paintball materials inside. The tool tray atop becomes a magazine rack...no that woman is not a dirty magazine, for some reason that publication seems to think a chic holding a gun does something to sell issues I guess.

All reproduction metal signs came from Hobby Lobby, what is funny is all the other junk like oil cans, the tool tray and trunk, lantern etc is from my collection. Now...it seems as though it is acceptable to collect such material. silly boy

But....this is the true gem of my hubby's man cave, he turned the closet into a reloading station. I must say it makes me very happy because his previous reloading station was my kitchen. He used to sit at the breakfast nook and reload, ejecting primers on my floor and getting gun powder residue all over. Yeah....I hear ya.

so hooray for the new room!!!

If you read the previous posts on my girly room- The Uber Shabby Room you remember I spoke of the futon we purchased from Craigs list...this is it. Perfect for the room and exactly what we wanted, it was a bargain at $80....especially considering the trundle bed was thrown it!

Hey that stud of a man in that photo sporting the sweet sweatsuit and oversized sunglasses, that is my man 23 years ago. We had been married a little over a year and were expecting our first child, he caught this whopper of a paddlefish in the Williston Basin area. It was 68 pounds and full of caviar. For years he would go to the photo books and dig this one out to show anyone that would sit still long enough to hear the story. I finally decided to take it out and frame it for him, to this day he has never gone to the photo book to get any other picture...nope, not one of the kids or one of me..silly boy, but that is ok, this Monday the 16th we will be celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary and I guess I will keep him another 24 years God willing, especially since he wont be lacing the family dinner with gun powder any longer.

blessings and thanks for visiting

Uber Shabby Room Part 2

2012-01-12T11:30:00.003-06:00

Welcome to Part 2 of the Uber Shabby Room! You may see Part 1 HERE

I must first tell you about the amazing blessing that accompanied this bed. You see we had two rooms to decorate after our two children both fled the nest in the same month!! One room became the Shabby girl cave and the other the Man Cave....to be posted next. Ideally we wanted a futon for the man cave and something pretty for the guest shabby room. Saving space was our first goal with comfort and practical usage. Now in my dreams....and I mean dreams the perfect bed would have been a white iron trundle bed that looked like a day bed...sleeps two, looks nice, saves space and perfect style..that really was my perfect bed. Now for price...limited budget so you can imagine our glee when a futon just like what we wanted was listed on Craigs list for only $80, great condition and comfortable. I went to get it and was so exited, you will see that item when I post my husbands new hang out. Now while loading the bed this wonderful young woman looks at me and says....."You wouldn't have any use for a trundle bed would you?"
Me..."Yes!!!!"
I have this one....you can HAVE it! Oh can you hear me scream inside......the perfect bed, trundle and all for free! Score one perfect futon and one perfect bed for $80. woohoo What a blessing from God!

So I painted the wooden shelf from my son's room and placed milk glass and various white and pink/peach accessories on top.

I then covered a green metal star and the panel style door of the closet by decoupaging an old play bill, using nothing more than diluted Elmer's glue. Just tear out pages , dip in glue mix and place in random pattern.

I also had a partial bulletin board that I left in tact, which will come in handy for pinning wedding ideas for my daughter. Until that time I printed some great paper dolls that add just the right girly touch.

the closet before.....mmm not working!

Closet after

The reality of projects....means one big mess elsewhere!

You can see and download these paper dolls and others by searching Pinterest for Paper Dolls or follow me Here and check out my Nostalgia board.

I loved this Miss so much I gave her her own frame...then printed a second copy, cut her out and mounted her dressed in her finest to the frame.

The other side of the room from Part one.

See that chenille bedspread, we had been checking a second hand consignment store so frequently that the wonderful owner actually gave it to me! how sweet!!

Yep, I am loving my Shabby Girl cave! Next up...man cave and be sure and check out my giveaway on the side bar for a $40 free My Memories Scrapbook digital program!
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