Home of The French Marketplace

La joie c'est le partage
{ the joy is in the sharing }

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween everyone!
I hope you all have a safe, fun filled evening!
~
xo and God Bless,
Kathleen


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Decorative Storage Boxes!

Can you guess what these boxes once were?
Yep, that's right.
Diaper boxes!

So here is what you do:
~cut off all of the top flaps
{be sure to save these for use later in the project}
~paint the box whatever color you wish (i just used white spray paint)
~after the paint has dried, hot glue some ribbon or other trim around to top edge to dress it up a bit - this will also hide the cut edges from where you removed the flaps
Now here's where those flaps come in..
They will become your box labels.
Just cut them to size then spray them with chalkboard paint.  After they dry, use a hot glue gun to glue them to your box. Now you have a neat label that you can write on again and again as your storage needs change.
You're all set!
You can use these for toys, books, clothes...whatever you want.

I used mine for extra clothing that our little one has not grown into yet.
I also made a set that I painted metallic silver for the boys to use to stow away their toys.
~
So gather up those diaper boxes {bankers boxes work well too if you don't have diaper boxes} and get creative.  You can also cover them with fabric or decorative paper if you'd rather.  Make it yours and enjoy!

xo and God Bless,
Kathleen

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Story of a Garden Box

About a month ago, maybe two...I was wandering through a huge flea market looking for an old tool caddy.  I wanted to fill it with all kinds of autumn goodness and then give it a new home as a centerpiece for the dining room table.  Of course, we all know that when you are looking for something very specific, when you can see it in your minds eye...
chances are, you're not going to find it
But I have learned that that's okay.  Something even better always comes along!

You see...

...as I was looking for that very specific tool caddy, I ran right into this.
YES!!
This will do just fine.  Even better.  So it came home with me.
I cleaned it
I painted it
I loved it!
~
I wiped it with stain
I sanded it a bit
I loved it even more!

And here she is...filled to the brim with autumn goodness.
Looking even better than my mind's eye had imagined. 

She landed here on the coffee table while I was making a burlap runner for the dining room table.
Guess what?  Dear husband walked in and said " I love that box right there where it is.  Can we just leave it there?"
Of course!
Because even when we  think we have the best thought out plan, something different just might be better!

Have a wonderful day!
xo and God Bless,
Kathleen

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Turn a Jewelry Box into a Decorative Charging Station

It's funny how things work out sometimes.  I've been on the hunt for the perfect rustic box to turn into a charging station.  I've been looking for quite awhile now but I just couldn't find anything that would fit our needs.  I wanted something that would not only charge our phones, ipods, etc..but also provide a bit of storage.  So today, I'm rummaging around in my flea market stash and I see this old jewelry box.  I suddenly had a  light bulb moment!  This  could work!

I loved the wire doors and it had cute little feet too

So here it is before I started working on it

See all that storage inside those doors? 
 Perfect!!

I gave  it a good cleaning and then sprayed it with a can of Walmart brand spray paint.  "Gray Primer" is what the color says on the back label.  I believe it is actually paint though and not primer.  Then I painted the handles with some white acrylic paint and gave it a good sanding to distress it a bit.
Now for the fun part...

I drilled through the back of the box right into the drawer on two of the drawers.  Then I plugged the chargers into the wall, threaded the other ends through the two holes I just drilled and voila!
You have a charging drawer.  One for each of us!

and plenty of storage too!
Pretty cool huh?
I'm lovin' it!

Then, remember this old basket I got?  I filled it with flour sack towels and put it on top of the jewelry box to hide the outlet.
There you have it.  A fabulous and decorative charging station that fits neatly, right under the kitchen cabinet!

Have a great week!
xo and God Bless,
Kathleen

Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Great New Store!

I found an awesome new shop!  It's called Patina.  It's one of those places where, when you walk in the door, you instantly become giddy with excitement.  There are so many cool things and you find yourself trying not to buy EVERYTHING in sight!  I've been there three times in the past week and a half and I discover something new that I didn't see before each time I go in.

Today I found this neat old mailbox, a wire basket with the best wooden handle and an old wood box with a lovely keyhole!

I think I'm going to paint the box grey though.


If you're ever in Maryland, you've got to stop in!  I'll even give you their facebook page.  Go on over and say hello.  Tell them that I sent you.  You can "like" them while you're there too!

Have a great weekend!

xo and God Bless,
Kathleen

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Silhouettes and a Travel Themed Airplane Room is Starting to Take Shape

 
Is everyone having a happy fall?
I know we are.  The weather has been beautiful.  My rose bushes, clematis and hibiscus have all bloomed again and I got a huge late crop of tomatoes and peppers!
~ ~ ~
Okay, so I had to show you these cool silhouettes that my sister made!  She put together the nicest Halloween care packages of goodies and delicious treats and sent them to us - these were in the boys' package.  I thought they were so neat so we put them up on the old antique mirror as Halloween decor ~ fun!!

* * *
Also, I've been working on the little man's bedroom.
I've been sanding and painting furniture {which I will show later when all complete}
I've been finding some neat stuff at vintage shops and flea markets

Here is a little glimpse of his new room.  He loved this globe so it became a part of the airplane/travel theme.
You'll notice the "Pooh" border still up...he decided that he doesn't want to part with it yet.  That's okay, I wasn't really ready either - haha!  We'll just work with it.

I found this neat old map too.  I thought it would be fun above his bed.  He doesn't have a headboard so this just might work!

The littlest one approves

and lastly {for now anyway}, an old vintage Samsonite and an old wooden box from Brazil.  I'm thinking toy storage?

More later as the room is completed!
Have a wonderful Saturday.

xo and God Bless,
Kathleen