Simple, yet elegant dinnerware.

I like this pattern, but that's a whole lotta money for as much of it as I would need!
Aynsley Basket Weave

After nearly twelve years, my everyday dinnerware is biting the dust. It's been heading that way for a while. One piece after another has broken, cracked or chipped over the years until I'm down to quite the hodge-podge of dishes in the cupboard. When a dinner guest asked if I ever worried that my coffee mugs would shatter when hot liquid was poured into them, I knew I'd put off replacing them too long! (How embarrassing!)

Thinking this will be the winner. It has great reviews! It's microwaveable, dishwasher safe, and very reasonably priced. You can also buy by the piece versus having to buy sets. Bingo! Most bang for my buck so far!
Ten Strawberry St Havana Weave

As pretty as colored dishes can be, white is so much more practical and versatile. It goes with any decor scheme. If you really want to be practical, don't even get a pattern on it like I did with the basket relief. I wanted just a little design. The basket relief is elegant when needs be yet casual enough for every day. I'm all about having just one set of dinnerware!

My old dinnerware from Pier 1. Loved the look, but not good for the microwave...
and that's a must around here! I don't even think they make it anymore.

It was love at first sight when I saw my everyday dinnerware at Pier 1 years ago (swoon!). I still love it, but there is just one small problem: it does not microwave well! Some pieces get scalding hot while the food remains cold, meaning I'm afraid to pick up anything that had been heated. There's been many a burned hand:(

Really pretty, but don't care for the size of the mugs. I'm a serious coffee drinker and so is just about everyone I have over. A mug like this just isn't practical for our everyday use.
Oneida Westerly Basket Weave

Nice, but a little pricey for as much as I need.
Pillivuyt Basket Weave

Very nice and reasonably priced, but hasn't got the greatest reviews.
Thinking this may be one of those..."you get what you pay for" deals.
Psaltsgraff Basket Weave

Nice, but once again, it's pricey for everyday use.
Wedgewood Nantucket

The basket pattern has stood the test of time, though. I still love it as much now as I did then. So, I'm on a mission to find a new set of dinnerware that is a little more durable, yet has the same look and feel. I'm finding that there is quite a selection out there of white basket relief. Wha-hoo! Now, just to pick one because I need a ton of it!

Oh, and guess what is open this weekend for three days? My fabric warehouse! I feel a trip coming on:)

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Face-lift on the Cheap: Part 1c

I love this kitchen! It completely inspires me. How about you?
via DecorPad

I've been a bad, bad blogger! In my rush to get this rental finished, I've neglected to take pictures! Shame on me. Did I mention this house I'm working on is two hours away and the only time I can work there on site is weekends?! So, I do my regular stuff & planning all week, then hop in the car and take off to work on the weekends when hubby and grandma can watch kids! Can you say pooped - tired - exhausted? Even so, I am very grateful for a job I enjoy so much:)

This is another image I'm really feeling inspired by as the layout is the same except there is no peninsula:

via houzz.com

This weekend I installed a 2"x4" subway tile, brick pattern backsplash in "Biscuit" ceramic tile.

American Olean 12"x12" Biscuit - which is considerably whiter than this images appears!
via Lowe's

Total cost for materials was only about $150! Not too shabby and the difference it made is amazing. Granted, I went through every sheet and separated out an entire box of sheets with at least one broken tile, which I then was able to get for half-price as extras to the box and a half I bought of intact sheets. I've ask someone to go take some pictures, so I can show you. Hopefully, I'll get some soon. I did remember to take "before" pics after I'd started removing cabinet doors!

Fortunately, what I'm working on this week is refacing cabinetry. So, my car is currently loaded down with every cabinet door from the house! As soon as the veneer comes in, I'll post pics on the process and show you (hopefully - if all goes as planned) a quick and cheap update for old cabinets.

Like what you see? Please let me know! Support my blogging by becoming a follower.

Blue Skies...Nothing But Blue Skies!

Isn't that a song? For some reason it came to mind and I'm not a big music person. The only time songs come to mind for me is when I'm writing/posting. Go figure! Not that I don't enjoy music, I just enjoy the quiet so much I forget to ever turn it on! Must have something to do with having three boys:)

My Blue Sky!

It's just the faintest hint of a soft blue - almost grey.

Anyhoo, I got the dining room ceiling painted this weekend. Wha-Hoo! And guess what? It's blue skys - nothing but blue skies, and I LOVE it! So airy and light. Now I'm contemplating doing the same in the kitchen with the leftover paint. It needs it anyway since I took down that fluorescent space ship that was parked up there.

It just adds so much to the room and really makes me like the white walls even more. As my Big Boy said while we (I) sat there admiring it last night "It makes you notice the chandelier now. I never noticed there was that 'white thing' (medallion) around it at the ceiling." Bingo! That was one of my goals and if a pre-tween boy can notice it, I've met accomplished it:) I also did a simple adjustment to something already in the room that made a HUGE difference. Can you spot it?

Can you spot the change (and no it's not the table centerpiece.
I just forgot to take that off and put the hydrangeas back!)

Just to build the suspense, I thought I'd show a glimpse of the fabrics I'm planning on using.

I fell in love with this when I saw it and had to have it even though I had no idea what I'd do with it at the time.

This was not out of remnants! I bought eight yards of it to recover a chair, then changed my mind. I have been dying to use it somewhere because it's so pretty. It's my inspiration for the ceiling color as well as the plate I showed before.

The minute I saw this, I knew where it was going. Can you guess?

I've had plans for the basket weave pattern for about two years and just haven't been motivated to use it until I painted the room. The others are from my stash. I'm hoping I have enough of the paisley to do what I'm wanting to. If not, I may have to go hunting for more and since it came from the remnants bin, that may be tough. If you have a clue where to get it, PLEASE share!

My "To Do" list is unbelievably long today! I've got several small items I have to put finishing touches on and get down that blank space I call my booth, slip-covers to cut out and sew, and laundry out the yin-yang...just to name a couple! So, I'm off to work while the two oldest are still sleeping. I'll get a scan on this paint color to post hopefully today or tomorrow.

Have a great Monday while I'm sweating it to the "oldies"!

French Accent Table Reveal

O.k. Ready for another before and after? I've been finishing up some pieces around here to take down to my tiny little booth. What do you think of this piece? Think it'll sell?

It was an old solid mahogony, French Provencial style side table I picked up at a thrift store. Here's what I started with (before):

Before

After

Top Before

Top After

Leg Before

Leg After (nice gnat that landed on it!)

After

I've struggled with getting a good shot of this one. Because it's white and has a pearlescent dry brush....it's been hard to show you how pretty it actually came out. I hope this picture showcases it like it should.

So what do you think? I've got more coming. My days are booked lately. With a little guy at home still, two playing sports, school activities, a blog to run, drapery and mural orders, and furniture to redo, I feel incredibly blessed (and tired - but in a good way!). I love what I'm doing now. I'm loving that God has opened up this blog and creative outlets for me. You all are a true blessing and source of encouragement. Us stay-at-home/work-at home moms can sometimes feel a little isolated from the world. I just can't tell you how much I love hearing from you and how uplifting all your kind words are.

I'm working on other fun before and afters within my own home.  I am a strong believer in living within your means and not going into debt, so upgrades are slow, but exciting when you realize you've saved up enough to do some!

And, If you need something minor to lift up in prayer, I'm at a crossroads with having to make some decisions about computer (Mac for graphics = $), camera and equipment upgrades, and those are pricey. What I have just isn't "cutting the mustard" and yet I am very hesitant to spend that kind of money (I have a hard time walking the line between thrifty and cheap). Did I mention my hubby works in the building industry? Unless you have had your head buried under a rock for the last three or four years, you know that has been hit hard, which means if you're wise, you make sure you have savings and know how to live frugally. Not because you always have to, but just because you never know what the market will do. Any business that is volitile with ups and downs and dependent of the economy requires smart planning when times are good to survive times that aren't! Thankfully, God has kept us grounded and provided all we need. Watching what has happened to so many others has taught us a lot about being grateful and humble. It's also made us realize just how temporary and unimportant things really are, and opened our eyes to just how incredibly blessed we are (with or without "things").

It's also made me realize how God uses things we never thought as meaningful to teach us and prepare us for the future. For instance: growing up humbly and learning from the best (Mom/Dad) about how to stretch a dollar, learning the difference between needs and wants, being content with what you have, using the knowledge and skills God gave me, learning to be creative to make what I want versus just buying it, and most important....Keeping my faith front in center in my life. I wouldn't trade anything about my childhood and what I learned! Thank you Mom and Dad!

All that to say this is when I sit there and pray hard about needs versus wants...wise versus unwise investments. So, I'll leave you with a little inspiration pic:

"Dandelion Glory"
B.E. Interiors Photography

Now to go finish up two more furniture pieces and hopefully post them tonight:)

Miss Bee

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Goodbye, Sweet Chandy!

Have you ever found a piece you REALLY didn't want to let go of? I have. This was my latest.

Meet Chandy:

I went in Goodwill one day and saw this sitting there for ...(Ready?)... SEVEN, that's $7.00!!!!! I couldn't get to it fast enough! I was even ready to yank it from someone else's hands if they dared pick it up before I got to it. It was in great shape, albeit a little dusty and dirty. I actually had a lady come up to me after I got it commenting on how she wished she'd seen it (don't even THINK about it!).

The funny part is, I can remember as a child going into a house my grandparents had just bought and it was full of these old metal tole chandeliers. I distinctly remember them or my mom commenting on how ugly they were and how those had to come out! Amazing what cycles around in fashion and style. Check out out these details:

Want to know why I grabbed it so fast? Check out these pics I have in my files:

Love this room!
Massucco Warner Miller Interiors via Decor Pad

LOVE this room as well!
Elizabeth Dinkel via Decor Pad

via Lonny Magazine

Margot Austin via Decor Pad



via Coastal Living



Anyway, I took Chandy home and cleaned her up. I gave her a new coat of "Heirloom White" spraypaint,  checked out the wiring (perfect condition) and did a photo shoot. Last week I sold Chandy to a great gal in Florida who actually wanted it so bad she had her sister meet us at the airport to get it and hold it for her! Thank you, Tracie:) I want to see pictures of Chandy in her new home. She would have looked gorgeous over my bed or in my closet!

Miss Bee

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