Country Hutch Refreshed.

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog!

I thought that I would take a minute to clear up something. Some of you call me Jo, and some Anne, well my name is Joanne and I always wanted to be called Anne (pronounced Annie), but know one ever did it was always Jo. So several years ago I has starting my own business and I decided to call it Anne’s Attic – design (what’s funny is that I live in a basement apartment). LOL Then I needed a name for my blog hence my business name. But whether you call me Jo, Anne, or Joanne or what ever I still will love you all the same, and I will be the same person.

On to better things.

Here is a look of the rest of the changes that I have made in my home. This dress form will be receiving a new paint job. I’m not so big on the color, I have never painted fabric before but I think that this will be a good project to start with. What colors do think would be best? Help me out!

My hutch got a good going over. I put my darling blue bread box on the bottom shelf with my small collection of scales. I really like the rusty bucket and the tin buckets it adds to the patina on the shelf.

On the middle shelf is some old silver and a pottery honey pot. I like the look of the blue ball jars it add color.

On the top of the hutch I’ve added a pine cone garland. I use this all year round. The cotton boles add some great texture and really shows off the grape wine wreath. I tipped the crown on its side just for added interest.

I just love the little cow, he is there just for fun.

Here is a picture of it all together. The pink chair is getting a new coat of white paint to.

I hope that you have enjoyed some of the changes that I have made in the house. I pretty sure that in a few weeks I will have more, I change around my pretties quite often.

Have a beautiful day my dear friends!

((Warm Hugs))

Jo

More Lovely Ideas!

Good day everyone! I hope that you are surviving old man winter. We had blue skies for about half the day yesterday and It felt so wonderful. I just sat on the porch and let it all soak in while the grand children played in the sunshine.

I would like to give a special welcome to you that are coming from Vicki’s 2 bags full blog, and her wonderful party “Grow your Blog”. This is exactly the purpose of this great party for us new bloggers to grow. I would love to have you FOLLOW my blog on a full-time basis. This makes blogging worth while. There were days when I would send out a post and I know not a soul read it. Really frustrating right? My blog is growing a little at a time thanks to lovely bloggers like Vicki who are there to help us first timers.

Special thanks again to Vicki and 2 bags full.

On some of the past posts I have been showing you the changes that I have made in my home since Christmas. I totally took everything down from the walls, shelves, tables, cupboards . . . I’m pretty sure you get the picture, so here are some more rooms that I did changing in, I hope that through this post you will get excited and help beat winter doldrums by up doing your home, or some parts of it.

The bathroom got an up date. I have a sea-side theme going on here. My colors are all neutrals. With dove-gray paint white trim.

I bought this lovely tin bucket to hold my magazines. Some days this is the only time I get to look through them. LOL The tile is dirty gray with throw rugs to match. The shower curtain looks just like a giant petticoat. I have a vintage hand stitched runner and baskets filled with sea shells on the back of the toilet.

I love these little pictures with the embroidery on them.

Lovely lavender sits in a metal bucket with a pink mermaid who is soon to get a face lift. I wish that I could get a face lift that easily. LOL

Last but not least I added some new lovely towels to freshen up the bathroom.

This area is where I keep my lovelies, it’s like a small room before you walk into the bathroom. I put anything that I don’t want my three-year old grand-daughter to get into on this shelf. She is really into PRETTIES right now. LOL I tore pages from an old book and then tied them on vases and jars with old string, it gives it a fun feel. The painting in the back ground was my first try of painting a tutu. I just can’t seem to through it out.

Lavender is divine. Here is a fun little vignette with a cement urn full of pine cones, lovely lavender, and a place for cotton balls. A vintage linen cloth lies on top of the chest.

This old blue chest is going to get a make over and I was thinking about putting some silver foil on it or a new paint job. What do you think? On top of the shelf is a vintage bag that I keep all of my make up in, nice and safe.

Here is a fun little tray that you might enjoy making. I took and old picture frame and placed lace in it instead of a picture. It makes a nice place for my little antique Wind Song perfume bottle as well as other perfumes. I have made several other trays in all different sizes. Give it a try.

Now for my bedroom. This bed is going to get a very big up date soon, so I will have a big reveal coming up. The bed has a Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic spread and matching pillows on it. I’ve had this for about five years and it washes up so beautifully, and it’s warm and comfy. I really love it. Oh course I trade it in and out with the seasons. So sorry about the pictures in this room it is very dark and I must have all the lights on so they glare some.

This shelf holds many of my vintage pretties. Can you tell that a man doesn’t live in this room! LOL I love the old romantic pictures in this little cupid is ready to make a match. Maybe he could make one for me! LOL

At the end of my bed sits my pine cedar lined chest that I refinished in white. Some sheep skin and a white metal urn filled with buckles. The picture tied to the turquoise vase was a Mother’s Day card given to my grand mother. Next to it is a refurbished wine bottle that I did. I’ll have a post on those later on.

On the other side of the chest top is a great old drawer filled with roses and shabby ribbon. An old metal horse door stop rides on top. The calf trophy was won by my Father in a calf roping event. I painted it white, I wonder what he would say if he were still here? Sorry Dad I just had to! LOL Covering the chest is a white burlap table runner that I made with old cotton sheet ruffles and tulle ruffles. I have more fun with old pieces of fabric.

This great piece is a family heirloom. I received it from an Aunt and she said that her husbands great-aunt brought it to Utah. If you take the drawers out you can see Victorian news paper that is dated 1865. I wish that I could display the paper but it is pretty stuck to the inside of the chest. At least it gives me some kind of idea how old it is. On top of the dresser I display some old family photos with a lovely linen table-cloth. This little dresser is going to get a make over. Any suggestions what I should do?

I put my lovely bakers tray in my bedroom. I have always loved the great patina that it has. A top is a manikin she wears a vintage bridal head-piece with a vintage cameo around her neck. In the crown is the head-piece that my Mom wore at her wedding, with the topper of a bride and groom that was on Mom and Dad’s wedding cake. Surrounds the crown a piece of sheep skin. An angel wing adds some softness to the display.

Here is a little better view of it. I put twinkle lights on some of my vignettes during the winter it helps to perk me up.

My old jewelry box even got a few ruffles.  As you can see most of my colors are in the French Nordic tradition I really love the look.

French Nordic + Shabby Chic = Romantic Farmhouse.

I love wicker. Some designers say that it belongs outside, not so for me. It brings in texture and a little of the outdoors. One of my Capodimonte style lamps from Italy sits next to my bedside.

Above the harp chair are doilies that I made with my Grandmother when I was small. My hands are always busy.

I know that this post got a little lengthy but I really wanted to show you the fun ideas that I have. I hope you enjoyed my little tour today.

Please send shoot me some comments on what you think I should do on refinishing my chests. I would love to get your opinions.

Until next time . . .

((WARM HUGS))

Jo

Valentine Garland and Streamers

Welcome to all my dear friends! I have several new friends following and I’m so glad that you have come!

I thought that I would show some of the Valentines projects that I have been working on, so here we go.

I was really excited for this new project because I got to use my stash of German Glass Glitter. It is so fun to work with it really make your projects look divine.

My choice was the word love. I didn’t have any stencils so I free handed them, on and old gift box. With the help of a paper punch I think that they turned out nicely.

Using German Glass glitter I soon found that gloves are a must, it can cut you. I applied a small amount of glue a little at a time with a sponge paint brush and then sprinkled the glitter on with a spoon. I let it dry about an hour before I started to thread the string on it for hanging.

After I hung it I was disappointed that the letters didn’t show up as good as I would have liked. l thought well maybe I should have used gold glitter. But I wanted the silver touch. So here is what I did.

I cut an oval out of scrape book paper and it really made the letters sing. The pictures just do not give the beautiful patina that the letters have. Sorry I wish it showed better. I can’t wait to see the silver tarnish some, to give it that antique look.

Here is a fun little garland project that I did with my Grandchildren. We first cut out hearts from old tissue paper, there was lots left after Christmas time.

I sewed 2 hearts together on my sewing machine at a time, then pulled out some thread and sewed more. Of course the length is up to you and where to hang them. The Grandchildren knew right where.

On the doors . . .

and hanging from the ceilings. I think that if I would have let them they would be hanging from the rafters of the house. It was a fun easy project that we enjoyed doing together.

I hope that I gave you a little inspiration to craft and decorate for Valentine’s Day. I will be showing you a few more in later posts.

What Valentines day craft projects have you been working on, I would love to hear back!

((WARM HUGS))

Jo

Just a Thought

((WARM HUGS)

Jo

A Great Announcement!

  I am so honored to be part of a special party called  “Grow your Blog!!!”

 By Vicki @ 2 Bags Full 

Vicki is an amazingly talented, gifted, kind lady that sponsors a party once a year for bloggers that are trying to grow there blog. How great is that?!  Vicki is the kind of women that remembers when blogging was tough for her and she wants to pay it forward. She has so kindly allowed me to be part of it. There will be over 400 bloggers involved and you will get a chance through my blog or Vicki’s to visit all of these great blogs from around the world!

Many of these blogs from around the world will be having special give a ways, so make sure that you visit as many as you can starting today.

A Special Welcome to those of you who have not been here before please take the time and enjoy the many posts that I have on my blog. I love blogging and I’m getting to know so many of you, it truly is a privilege. 

This beautiful white plaster parrot that is 12″ tall by 6″ wide he will be my special give a way to one lucky person. You don’t even have to be a blogger or follower to win.! You don’t have to do anything but leave a comment on my blog with your name and email address so that I can contact you if you are the LUCKY WINNER! On February 15, 2015 a winner will be chosen. I will announce then on a my blog so please check back to see if you have won.  I will mail this anywhere in the world to you!

The more the merrier so invite your friends, family, neighbors, or people you work with to visit all of these great blogs. There will be many different types of blogs and one is for sure to capture your special interests.

I cherish each and everyone of you, the new visitors and those that come by often. You are important to me and I hope that I can give you some kind of inspiration through visiting. Have a beautiful day!

((WARM HUGS))

Jo

Where Jo Works

Winter can be a really tough time for me.

 When it is snowing and the fire is lit and I’m sitting in my robe with a great cup of hot coco I am as happy as can be. But when the winter doldrums hit I can really feel miserable. That’s when I say “okay Jo it’s time to do something you enjoy that will change your attitude.” That’s when I start going through my crafting supplies to see what I can create. Then I start to feel much better, and I get a little giddy. LOL

Being that I am single and do not have a bow, Valentine’s Day is not one of the holidays that I really enjoy. But I do have family and they are my biggest love so I do some decorating.

This gives me a chance to use my newly reorganized work bench. Take a look.

This is where I create. Under the curtain are rows of drawers that hold my crafting supplies. Since moving into this apartment I have had to be very creative with my space. To the far left of my work bench is my sitting room/TV room, on the right is my dinning area, and across from my work bench sits my hutch. Everything is compact and it will be that way until I have my own home again.

As you can see I have hung my favorite saying, it helps me create. The top of my bench is made from a hollow core door, covered in vinyl. This gives me lots of room to create. The only item that I don’t have a home for is my sewing machine Molly, but someday I will, I love keeping her out, we have been friends for over 40 years.

Everything on my bench has a double purpose, this basket not only holds my crochet thread but my lamp as well.

I had this book-case and ask my son if he would like it and he said “YES”. But if you snooze you loose, around me so now I use it on my work bench to hold craft items.

The top shelf holds many loving tools that were my Dad’s and an old sketch of Rome.

The second self holds glitter and pencils. I’m a glitter horde so I have much more down under the curtain. These are my favorites.

The bottom shelf has pens, scissors, thread and an old button tin and covered note books that I use a lot.

These are more great notions that my Dad had, though the thread is quite brittle now I still like to look at it, it gives me inspiration.

Now I am ready to get to work on some of those Valentine projects that I have been wanting to do. One of the first ones will be with the new German Glitter that I bought. I can’t wait to share it with you.

In service of our country!

Just have to give a pat on the back to my oldest son Adam who is a Master of Arms, Petty Officer in the US Navy, he was awarded the most outstanding sailor for the year of 2014 on his Naval base at Misawa-shi Japan.  I am really proud of all of his hard work and for serving his country with honor and dignity, and for his sweet wife and children that back him 100%. I love and miss them tons.

Until later stay warm and happy.

(( Warm Hugs))

Jo