Roxie's Friday Quote 9.28.12

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
- Harriet Tubman

 

Have a great weekend.

Pretty Patterns: Chevron

It's that time ya'll. The kids are on the corner waiting for the school bus, leaves are turning all shades of brown, orange and burgundy, and every grocery store as far as the eye can see is stocked with bags and bags of candy. That's right, Halloween is on it's way and people are beginning to decorate their homes with pumpkins, ghosts and ghouls. If that is not your speed you can still get the spirit in your house (no pun intended) by adding color and pattern reminiscent of Halloween like Chevron.

 

This strong, graphic, zigzag pattern reminds me of carved pumpkins especially when it's used on an orange pillow or vase. If you want to warm up your home and have a little fun without going totally Halloween consider Chevron. You don't need to invest in big pieces, just add a few throw pillows to the sofa  or toss a chevron shawl across a chair. In a rich shade of russet or dramatic black and white, it's a great way to get the feel of fall and Halloween without breaking the bank. Here are a few pieces that might inspire you. 

1. Amazon.com
2. Overstock.com
3. Overstock.com
4. Lamps Plus
5. Fabric.com
6. Amazon.com
7. Z Gallerie
8. Fabric.com
9. Lamps Plus
10. Fabric.com

Let the holiday season begin.

Painted tray

I love the look of painted trays almost as much as I like woven baskets. They are the coolest way to keep things neat and organized and add a bit of style to boot. They are fun to use on a table or ottoman and are great to hold bills or papers on a desk. They come in a multitude of colors, shapes, sizes and styles but if you are into making things your own you can find a plain one at a thrift or discount store that you can then paint or embellish to suit your own personal style. 

I found this tray tucked way in the back on the bottom shelf at my local Homegoods store. It was a bit beat up but for $7 I didn't care. All of the scratches would be covered up anyway with a couple coats of spray paint. I've painted a tray before a bright red but this time I wanted to go a bit more neutral so I could use it in multiple rooms. 

This was a very simple project, but to start I roughed up the surface a bit with a piece of sandpaper so that it would accept the primer. I followed with a couple of coats of Rustoleum's Painters Choice spray paint in Dark Gray.  

 I decided I wanted the inside to be ivory so I taped of the top edges and along the handle side so that the ivory paint would not seep through. I wanted the inside of the handle to be ivory so that you could see it from the outside of the tray and it would look like an accent. I followed up with a couple of coats of gloss top coat to protect it.

Here is the final tray.

Roxie's Friday Quote 9.21.12

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. 

- Mahatma Gandhi

        

Have a great weekend.

Thriftstore Thursday

I went on my weekly hunt for bargains at the thrift store and came across this beautiful ice blue antique bubble glass bottle for $6.95. Often I will spot something unique but may walk around and think if I should really buy it. Not this time. I immediately decided this beauty was coming home with me having no idea what to do with it. It stands about 22" tall with the stopper and is about 5" in diameter. It does not have any markings on it so I would love to learn the history of these types of bottles. 

For now I'll just set it on the table and let it look pretty.

I love my weekly trips to the thrift store because you just never know what you will come across.