To Paint or not to Paint

Happy Monday everyone.  Hope your week is starting out great.  We actually are going to hit 60 here today.  Wooo Hooo that is nice for us here in the midwest.

Ok you know how I made the ottoman out of the two end  dining room chairs.

Reminder here:


Remember these chairs.  I loved them but they did not really go with my french farmhouse decor but I still loved the legs of these chairs.


So I repurposed them into this ottoman.




Ok while I was loving this new look I was missing the curved legs of these chairs that I fell in love with.  Plus I felt the ruffles were too much for the family room.
So............



 I have had this old farm table out in the garden for the past few summers by my hubby's shed.  It was starting to see the end of it's life with all the watering and weathering.

So I decided to repurpose the legs from that table in my dining room with this old chippy door for a side bar.
You can see this post here.
I did not have the heart to throw out the top of the table from being outside.  I knew it would not make it another summer with the weather and watering but I just could not bear to throw this chippy piece away.
That is when I asked my husband to see if it would fit on top of the ottoman legs and it did!


Here is where I need some advice.  I love the top all weathered but it is in pretty bad shape.  So I am thinking about white washing it or even painting it white and distressing it to match the base.  Just not sure what to do.



In some places it is in pretty bad shape with all the watering and weather that it has been exposed too.
What do you think.  Leave it alone or paint it white.  Remember this is the girl that likes to paint everything white! LOL!
I am torn because I like the distressed weathered look but I also do not like how dark it is in some spots so maybe painting would be better.
We did sand this down as much as we could and it still was pretty dark with the water seeping through the wood for so long outside.

Opinion's welcome.  Would love to hear what you think I should do.
Have a great start to the week.
Kris
:)


Sharing with Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Thank you Sweet Blogging Friends

You know I cannot say this enough and I know I sound like a broken record but Blog Land is a wonderful place with very wonderful and kind hearted people.


My friend Diana over at her blog Nana Diana Takes a Break
put up a post a few days ago to have prayers and good wishes sent to my hubby who was going through a rough time.


He woke up on Wednesday at 3am to severe abdominal pain.  We went to the ER and they tried to get the pain under control and find out what was the cause.  All the tests were coming back normal so we were all baffled and scared to what this might be.


They finally got a GI specialist in and admitted him to the hospital and then did some exploratory surgery and found a bile duct to be almost completely closed off.  They opened it up and put a stent in that will be removed in about 6 weeks.  After this procedure and surgery he has been slowly getting the pain under control.  The doctors are cautiously optimistic this was the problem and when all of this calms down from the surgery he will be feeling 100% better.

I have to thank all of you for the wonderful thoughts and healing wishes along with the prayers.  I am a big believer in the power of prayer and I know it worked for us and I feel blessed that some of you that know me prayed and others that did not know me prayed for us too.  That is remarkable and I am truly blessed to have all of you doing this for us.

This man is my hero, my best friend and my partner in all my crazy decor things so I will be so happy to have him back to his old self soon.

Thank you for all your good wishes and prayers.  It made a big difference.

My hero, my friend, my soul mate.
Thank you from both of us.
Terry and Kris
:) xxxooo

Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind The Blogger



Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.
There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 
March 29th
Debbie from Lakehouse



Good Saturday Morning.  I have a special blogger this week to introduce you too.  Not only is her blog full of inspiration but the way she lives her life surviving Cancer is so inspiring.  Please enjoy getting to know Debbie from Lakehouse.  Then make a visit to her wonderful blog.






Thank you for the opportunity to share on the Spotlight Feature here at Junk Chic Cottage, Kris.
I'm Debbie, from Lakehouse.
Our cottage is located on the largest inland lake in northern, lower Michigan.
My hobbies are gardening, and decorating our home in a shabby, flea market style.
Lately, I've been attracted to vintage-French furniture.
Since recovering from cancer, what matters most to me, is my family. I have three wonderful daughters...Melissa, Kelly,and Erin.
My son in laws are remarkable young men, whom I think the world of.
I have been blessed with eight grandchildren that bring me more joy than you could ever imagine.
I have a husband that has been at my side through many illnesses. He has never complained...not even once.
Spending time with my daughters, and their families is so important to me.
Time is so precious.
You never know how much of it you have.
It seems to pass so quickly.
I wish I could slow it down.
I want to consciously hang on to each moment, and imprint it on my brain as a cherished memory.
Never to forget what a specific occasion, or situation felt like as it was happening.
So I can experience it again in my heart whenever I want to.





I depend on photos to remind me. I tend to forget some things due to a brain tumor from a few years ago. I see the joy on the faces of my family, and I know there is love there.
I am truly blessed.

Thank you, Kris, for inviting me to share on your beautiful blog.


So Happy all of you could get to know Debbie a little better.  Now hop over to Susan's blog and meet another fun blogger Tracie from Fishtail Cottage.

Have a great week.
Kris
:)


XXXXXOOOOOO

Hi Everyone.  Hope the week is going great for all of you.

I want to give a shout out to a really wonderful friend and my partner in Spotlight.  Susan from Must Love Junk.

Susan and I started our blogs just about the same time two years ago.  We immediately clicked and when she came into Chicago last year for a vacation we met up and become even closer friends.

Last week Susan had another wonderful blogger friend Kathy from Creative Home Expressions make something special and then had Kathy send it to me this week to just say I am thinking about you.

I was so excited to get this cutie.  Susan and  Kathy  both have Etsy's shops .  Kathy and Susan sell some really awesome things in their shops.   Please visit Kathy's Etsy to see all her wonderful creations and I think she even has a few more of these cute bunny towels like the one she sent me up for sale.  Susan also has a nice Etsy shop with her mom and a brick and mortar shop too.   

Blog World is such a wonderful place.  I cannot say that enough.

Well girls I love this little guy and I  love both of you for thinking of me and sending this adorable towel to me.  Now I am going to show him off.


It is a stamped bunny on a cream muslin towel for my kitchen for Easter.

Is it not just too adorable.  I love it on my counter in the kitchen with my Easter bunny display.  Thank you Kathy for your talented hand made gift and Thank you Susan for thinking of me and having Kathy make this for me.  I just love it.
Big hugs and kisses to both of you.


He is too cute look at the sweet face.  Come back on Saturday Susan and I will have two wonderful bloggers in Spotlight for you to get to know better.
Have a great rest of the week.
Kris
:)



Dressing Up the Lamp shades

I did an easy DIY today and dressed up my two plain white lamp shades.  I used a little burlap and some bling burlap flowers.



I bought this burlap ruffle and thought I might use it on a few things around the house.  Was not sure what but just loved this burlap.

I had these plain white lamp shades I have been hanging onto until I could find new ones.  So I thought since I have not been able to find any new ones I like...... I will just dress these up with some of that burlap.


Got out the hot glue gun and glued the ruffle around the center of the lamp shade.


I had some burlap left over so I made some flowers and added a little bling to each one and glued them to the burlap on the shade.

So now I have dressed up the lampshades without a lot of fuss.  Easy Peasy fix to plain ole white shades.

Have a great week.
Kris
:)
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Sharing with What's It Wednesday
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Sharing with Amaze Me Monday

Sometimes Right In The Middle Of An Ordinary Day!

Happy Sunday.  Hope your week end is going wonderful.

I wanted to take a minute and do this special post as a special thank you to a wonderful person in "Blog Land"

I have said this many times since I started blogging almost 2 years ago that you meet the sweetest and kindest people out there.

I have shared so much with so many of you.   What is so beautiful about Blogland while it seems strange but true you develop some of the most wonderful friendships.  

We cheer each other on with our projects and find wonderful inspiration from each other.  We have great like minded people to turn to when you have questions about a decor change or a new idea.  That is the beauty of Blog Land. 

 The best part is that you form wonderful friendships with people from all over that you normally would not even know were out there if it was not for Blog Land!

Every once in a while you bond with someone(s) in this Land of Blog.  Never meeting in person just sharing thoughts, ideas and many sweet and personal emails back and forth.  

I have done that with a blogger.   I know some of you know her .  It is Carol from Art and Sand.  

Carol is my hero not only because she is sweet and talented but she cares and she had cared for many years for her students.  Carol is a teacher. 

 Teachers are my hero's because they give so much to shape the minds of the young people that will be in charge some day when we are all gone.  

That takes a lot of work, dedication, patience and love.  To teach our youth and prepare them for the world we live in and enhance their minds is an incredible feat.  All teachers are my hero's and they do all of this for not a lot of money but because they care.

Carol just recently retired from her many years of loving and molding the youth's of tomorrow and now she has time to be home with her beautiful and talented hubby and family.

Carol creates the most beautiful vignettes of color through out her home.  Yep!  that's right the white and cream girl here bonded with the colorful girl out in California! LOL!  It just happens and Carol and I have become pretty wonderful blog friends.

I had been having a rough couple of weeks and Carol knew about it and besides her kind words of support and hope she also put together something special to send to me.

The door bell rang and my Mailman Jim was at the door with this package.  It was from Carol.  Carol sent this to make me feel up lifted and better.  To make me smile.

It did just that and  I want to share what Carol made for me with all of you.

Carol sent me this beautiful little pillow slip.   She knows my love of white and creams so she did this pillow up in those colors.  Some of the squares are a light cream and some are white.  All are gorgeous.

What really made this special was the little silver piece that was embossed with JUNK from a spoon or fork handle. Ohhh I just loved it.  Look at the sweet rose flowers and the different pretty pieces of fabrics she used.  Carol I just love this. :)



I put this pretty right on my favorite chair in my living room.  I love this chair it was a special gift from my hubby for Christmas.  So now I have this lovely hand made gift from Carol to add to this chair.


I love to sit in this chair and read or sometimes close my eyes and doze off into a nap!  Thank you sweet Carol for this beautiful and heart felt gift.  I am blessed to know you and I hope to come to California some day and meet you in person.  I know it will happen!  Thank you sweet friend. This gift is precious and you made my day.


If some of you do not know Carol please visit her beautiful and fun blog   Art and Sand and look around her beautiful Beach Cottage Home.  You will love her and her wonderful blog.

Thanks again Carol.  Hugs and Kisses xxoo
Kris
:)
Have a great start to the new week everyone.


Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind The Blogger



Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself  wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.
There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 

Saturday March 22


The Spotlight Feature is to introduce you to wonderful bloggers with beautiful and inspirational blogs.  I love the comments that come back to say thank you for introducing me to a new blogger.  That is what I love about this it brings new bloggers together and also let's us get to know the bloggers we love to visit on a more personal basis.


This week I am introducing you to a blogger that not only has a  beautiful blog but also has a beautiful life and story to share.  I am truly excited to introduce you to June this week from Laughing with Angels.  Please enjoy reading her story and also seeing her beautiful family, home and inspirational life.  Enjoy.







I want to thank Kris for asking me to be her guest here today and to share a few things about myself.

I'm June and I am the author of the blog Laughing With Angels.
For those who don't know me, my blog is named Laughing With Angels because 
of the particular syndrome that my son has. He has what is called Angelman
Syndrome and one of characteristics of it is excessive laughter. Isn't that just the neatest thing?
He doesn't laugh near as much as he did when he was a young child, but rarely is he ever without a smile.
I am a full time caregiver (mom) to Landon who is now 27 years old. He is on the more
severely affected end of the scale of Angelmans and doesn't have any self care skills.
He doesn't walk and has no speech, but his eyes communicate a lot.
I love my life and wouldn't change anything about this gift I have been given.

I have been married for a-very-long-time! to a-very-awesome person!
I am a mother to six children (four girls-two boys) and gram to 13 grands.
My children and I are very close and have so much fun when
we are able to get together.

We live in rural Idaho, in a farming and ranching community of 500 people.
The place we live on daily is an acre, but we have 65 acres in the mountains
about 17 miles north of where our home is. If we had our way, that is where our home would be
but because of Landon's health and the fact that there is no telephone or cell service there, 
we choose to live in town. 
We enjoy living the rural life and have horses and a few calves here on the home place.
This is driving down into our town and if you look up and a little to the right you can 
see one large mountain and if you follow down the left hillside...right there in that canyon is 
our other place. It's called Fishcreek on maps and by the locals here.
I have a little teeny cabin there that I am getting ready to repaint and redecorate for the summer.
 Two of our five horses---Sunny and Pal
Trigger the Shetland pony
a gazebo it the back by the pasture fence
The thing that keeps me the busiest is the garden and yard that we have on this acre.
Gardening is my passion and I love having it right out our doors to enjoy everyday. 
We live on a very busy two lane highway and all the trees and greenery help to deaden the 
sound of the traffic. In spring, summer and fall that is where you will find me.
I do all the gardening myself and my husband does most of the mowing of the lawns.
My favorite thing about having this garden is watching the grandchildren playing amid all
the trees and having their little picnics and tea parties in it. 
I even let them ride Trigger the pony in it sometimes : )
I always said that I wanted to have a little granny garden.
One that didn't looked planned, but just happened over time.
I have created little pockets and rooms with the children in mind so 
that it makes a private little space that they can feel like is their 
own little secret garden. 
I am sharing some of those areas in the photos below.
I have a backyard studio where I love to make things for my home. It is a little 
sanctuary really. I was lucky enough to show it off in the latest issue (Feb/Mar/Apr)
of Where Women Create.
I go in there and turn on my favorite music and sing myself hoarse
while I sew or craft.
In front of the studio
I love making wreaths from my dried garden flowers and here are two I made this week.
The wreath above is sitting on a quilt top I finished awhile ago and is
ready to be quilted. I love sewing, any kind of sewing. 
The wreath below is much more colorful and I have a place in mind for it.
I made them to replace some other dusty ones I have had
hanging for some time.
  I love decorating, and like many of you, I love finding vintage items to do it with.
I love to move things around a lot too.
In fact, the house looks nothing like the photos below because
I have already been changing things up while spring cleaning.

below are two of my favorite vintage finds
the Gothic window frame and the pink and white porch railing
a few shots around the house of some favorite things

I love to take photos - of anything - at any time the lighting seems right. 
I know a little about photography and F-stops and aperture, but not nearly enough. 
You know how some things just won't penetrate the forehead sometimes? I get it, and then I forget it!
And to learn an editing program sheesh! I know I could if I put the time in. I just don't.
(Anything I edit is done with Windows Live Photo :)

I love photographing flowers as you can tell from my blog.
They are the perfect subjects.
A parting shot of my garden in early evening light.
There are many things I love to do in life but I truly am what you would call 
a homebody. I don't care for going 'out' much and I think 
that goes with rural living. It is such a drive to go anywhere and to do anything,
that I usually am fine entertaining myself with hobbies here at home.
I can't even tell you the last time my husband and I ate out together. For Valentine's Day 
this year he drove 25 miles to bring take-out Chinese home for me. What a guy!
Living in a town that is miles from anything has been a challenge sometimes, but the trade offs
are worth it to me. Thank you for letting me share my life with you, and thank you again Kris
for the opportunity.


Thank you June for your inspiring story and the most beautiful pictures.  Just gorgeous.
Now that you have gotten to know June please hop over to Susan's blog and meet another inspirational blogger Cathy from My 1929 Charmer.
Have a wonderful Weekend.
Kris
:)

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