Monday, December 31, 2012

Discovered Treasure

If I never see a piece of blue painter's tape ever again I would be completely fine....I'm just kidding, but really.

 For years and years every time I would start to approach my hometown of Columbus, NE there is a big white barn that greets you on the outskirts of town. Whenever I pass by it, something would always trigger my curiosity of what's inside. I am always looking for projects to "re-do" and make into something beautiful. So on my way home from Christmas break I was determined to go once and for all. When I first walked inside of this massive barn, I didn't see much. A lot of of knick-nacks, old dinnerware and 1950's paintings with broken frames. When I made my way up the stairs, there were mainly old sofa's that where torn and in poor condition. Now I'm all about turning something that is about to burst at the seams into a masterpiece, but some of these pieces were beyond repair. As I turned the corner a vintage chest caught my eye. It has a torn broken handle and was starting to rust on the hardware. Immediately I envisioned of what a little TLC could do to this vintage chest. So $40 later on a blustering Saturday afternoon and it was mine! 

So now I had my handy work cut-out of me. With a little help from my boyfriend....okay okay, A LOT,  of help from my boyfriend, we were able to turn this vintage chest into a potential coffee table for my apartment next year.

The order we went about repairing the chest could be considered as our first mistake...rookie mistake might I add. We decided to strip and prime the wood first when we ultimately should have painted the gold hardware first. So we striped and primed the wood, covered it with blue tape, and then sprayed the canvas panels with primer and then white paint. Great, so now we only have the hardware left to "hand paint" gold right? Right! Expect one minor problem that turned into a major problem....there was no paint (other then spray paint) that would stick to the hardware and still give it a streak-free smooth look. So after hours and hours of contemplating and experimenting we decided to just cover EVERY INCH of the chest with blue tape so we could spray paint the hardware with gold metallic to give it the best appearance. After many rolls of blue tape later, one sharp exacto knife, and a back ache that still won't go away...the chest was done!








Thursday, December 20, 2012

New Painting: Drops of Fire

Home for the Holidays means time to get down to business and get a few paintings done! Now after every painting I complete I always tell myself "this is by far my favorite one!" But each time I say that I truly mean it! The more and more I splatter paint onto the canvas the more it leads to all the possibilities of a big white blank space. Often times when I am finished with a painting, it's not the design the wins me over, its the combination of the colors and how well they react on the canvas. In my opinion, you can have an awesome design, but if the colors aren't right then it completely distracts the eye from the painting. So color is KEY and that is why I love this painting so much. It has a wonderful balance of warm and cool hues that don't overpower eachother. I am often times hesitant when I begin to mix such opposite color families but if you nail just the right proportions it can leave a brilliant outcome!




Friday, December 14, 2012

Spotlight Feature: Lands' End Canvas

So lately I've realized that in the long run it really pays to spend a little more on quality pieces that you know will last you for years down the road...if only I would have realized this sooner right? Right! Now I'm not saying that if you find a top or skirt for $15 that doesn't mean it's not "good quality" but I am saying that if you do happen to come across a staple item that is on the higher end of your budget, don't stray away....these are often time the pieces that will last you for years down the road instead of one night out on the town and then you're done! 

Lands' End has been known for years for producing quality apparel! They recently came out with the line called "Canvas" that caters men and women that still want the quality, price to fit the budget, and stylish trends that your grandma wouldn't be able to wear. What I really love about this brand is the versatility it offers. I am in love with the gold sequin skirt below and how it would be perfect to wear to a work Christmas party. With so many classic styles with the right price tag, Canvas is definitely worth your time! Take a look at EVERYTHING HERE!



Friday, December 7, 2012

Dress-Up Your Jewelry!

If your jewelry is meant to dress you up, don't you think it deserves to be dressed up every once in awhile too? These fabulous jewelry boxes will not only pamper your pearls and gold but would be the perfect stylish addition to the top of your dresser! With a price that fits the budget, these items would make the perfect gift on anyone's Christmas list! 





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Monday, December 3, 2012

The Ultimate Gift Guide- Guest Blogger Lauren Lemke



Counting down the days until Christmas? Me too! Time for family, Christmas music, and of course, picking out the best presents (because it really is better to give than to receive, right?). If you’re stuck on what to ask for, or to get your mom, sister, or best friend, we have you covered! Here are the best gifts to give (or put on your own list) this holiday season, no matter your budget. 

Best Gifts under $50





             




Best Gifts Under $100









Best Gifts Under $200








Happy Shopping!
XO, Lauren