Sara’s Room Gets A Surprise Makeover

This past December, our Sara had the amazing opportunity to visit our good friends, and once neighbors the Grahams, in Australia! She was gone for 3 and 1/2 weeks including Christmas. Although the separation was tough, the experience was amazing AND it gave me the perfect opportunity to surprise her when she got home.

Before

 

The bed and the dresser were total scores on Craiglist. I love the bamboo detail on the dresser! I found the nightstand at Value Village for $5. I think the knobs on it alone cost that much. The duvet is a “Dottie” duvet by PB Teen. I got it for half at this great store in Salt Lake City called Down East Home. Sara loves dots. She also loves “Tiffany box blue”. So the paint choice was easy.

After

The paint color is really pretty and soft. The nightstand now blends in with the wall which is helpful in a small bedroom. I made the drapery panels for our youngest daughter’s nursery several years ago, but they were perfect to reuse. They are black and white toile lined with black out fabric, perfect for napping babies….. and teenagers who want to sleep in. The adorable polka dot cream sheers are Thomas O’Brien for Target (circa 2006).

I took the picture above just before leaving for the airport to pick her up. Sara was so excited when she returned home and saw it.

I am so happy that my little world traveler has returned home!

Stay tuned for updates on this….we’re not finished yet!

-Tara

M.F.E.O.

0
Made For Each Other. Pretty soon those conversation hearts will be in stores everywhere, but this anagram has been on my mind as I have been creating this season. As an opener I would like to touch upon a few elements of the creative process that I have learned to appreciate even more recently. They are :

1. Being Patient

I have had so much fun creating dessert pedestals (cake stands, cupcake stands,  candle stands … the list alternative titles goes on). I love a beautiful cake stand, but mostly they tend to be a little blah. These, however, each have their own unique personality, and will “speak” to a certain customer. It is really interesting to observe. Everyone has different favorites. The other thing I love about these stands is I LOVE using recycled materials. It is exciting to create something new and beautifully unique from something used and sometimes even discarded. I love the challenge.

When I go about creating these, rarely do I find both pieces, the base and the plate, at the same time. So, I have to be patient and hope that every piece I find will eventually come to its perfect match, which ties into the next element…

2. Trust your instinct, but don’t be afraid to go beyond it sometimes!

My friend, who I was collaborating with, brought me this unique, solid brass candlestick. It was cool, but I can’t say I was in love, not at first. I had nothing that went with it no matter how hard I tried. The proportions were always off and it seemed too masculine. Hmmm? So I shined it up and set it aside trusting that , YES, there was potential. Its match hadn’t been discovered yet. Many times the things I don’t love right away are the pieces I end up loving more, because they are unexpected.

3. Being aware and grateful when the magic happens! It’s when an idea you like, becomes a reality you love.

A few weeks later at one of my many haunts, what should be peaking out at me? Buried on the bottom shelf, was this beauty! It is a Dept. 56 platter inspired by Santa’s red suit.

Yes, there was an audible gasp that escaped my lips when I saw this.

Judging the proportions and style of this platter, I knew exactly the perfect base for this.

        

This turned out to be an absolute favorite this season! The chunky solid base gives it that masculine touch it needed. The black coat of paint has transformed the brass candlestick into Santa’s black boots that go so nicely with his striking red suit.

Yes, M.F.E.O!

Want to see more?

      

     

And even more?

So get creative! Be patient, go with your instinct and beyond, and receive that lightning when it strikes because it will.

Happy New Year!

Tara