Frugal Friday Linky Party~

We seem to be having some technical difficulties with Mr. Linky....so if you've dropped by and my entire blog seems to be missing...it is related to Mr. Linky, and hopefully it will be back up in a minute. Please come back...THANKS! And if the blog is here...well then ENJOY!

Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday Linky Party!! So glad you all could join us!

Here are the rules...please link directly to your post...not just to your blog. Please link back to this post if possible. And the most important rule...leave our participants lots of bloggy love...comments, comments, comments~

Now, grab a diet coke (or other beverage of your choice), kick your feet up, and enjoy these frugal decorating ideas!

Fun with Chalkboard Paint~

I'm sure most of you have seen this idea...but I thought I'd share it with you again!

I am enamoured with chalkboard paint! It is just so much fun! I had seen chalkboards made from silver trays, and although I have a couple of silver trays that I rarely use, I was hesitant to actually paint one of them. Then when I was at the dollar store with the kiddos, I found this little "silver" tray. I loved the beaded edge, and thought it would make a fun chalkboard. So I snatched it up.

Like my reflection? Yeah, I'm kind of a geek that way!

The tray was really easy to paint... and I didn't bother taping it off because it had a ridge which formed a natural guide (and I was able to easily scrape away the couple of spots where my hand wasn't as steady as I'd like.) TIP: before using a painted chalkboard...make sure you "season" it by rubbing the entire surface with the side of a piece of chalk and then washing it off. This allows the surface to be written on smoothly without "holding on to" individual lines.


It sure turned out cute...and I love the little bit of "elegance" that it adds to this little grouping on my kitchen counter!

Don't miss a fabulous giveaway from Lewa's Designs over at Kimba's blog today! Really fabulous. Seriously!

AND Don't Forget The FRUGAL FRIDAY LINKY PARTY is TOMORROW!! Come link up and share your great Frugal Decorating Ideas!! I can't wait to see what all my talented readers come up with this time!! Hope to you see you all there!~

He Loves Me~

Okay, so this post is a little belated...but better late than never.

The hubby was out of town on Mother's Day. And if I'm being honest, I have to admit, I was a little resentful. As a matter of fact, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. Home alone with my four kiddos on Mother's Day...

Then there was a knock at the door and a delivery man with these...

Okay, I guess I can forgive him ;-) Yep, that hubby of mine, he's a keeper!

And I am happy to announce that the Shabby Nest is now accepting sponsors. I only have a few available spaces left... but, if you have a web-based shop you'd like to promote here at my l'il ole blog, contact me for rates and information.

Have a great Wednesday~

Inspire-Me Tuesday

I'm sure you all know by now how much I adore numbers....on pillows and chairs in particular! But what I love even more is when one of my ideas inspires someone else! One of my dear readers, Tiffany at Happy Day shared a project that she made which was inspired by my numbered dining chairs...

Photo from Happy Day

Isn't this ADORABLE? It makes me want to go find an old school desk just so I can do the same thing! She has some other cute numbered projects as well. You can see her post here.

And I had to share with you all the inspiration behind my numbered bar stools. (above)

Photo by Lulu &Co.

Simply FABULOUS! Lulu at Lulu & Co. found this great "bench" on a recent antiquing trip. If you've never been to Lulu's blog, you better hurry on over. She always has something inspirational to share!

And Don't Forget the Frugal Friday Linky Party this Friday, May 29th!! Meet here and share your Frugal Decorating Genius!!

Have a great Tuesday~

3%~

One of my favorite things about having an Etsy store is getting to create special one-of-kind items for people. Even better than that is when these people share the stories that inspire their special requests.

Recently I had a customer request one of my custom pillows with "3%" on it. Her story was just lovely, so I asked her if I could share it with my readers. Lynn and her husband were struggling with infertility and had received news that they only had a 3% chance of ever being able to conceive.

In her words...

"Going through infertility is still such a big secret we all keep. I think that is why when some women (like myself) go through it it is quite lonely. We had gone through numerous treatments and three IVF's. All failed - zero fertilization - egg issue. To get that 3% news was beyond devastating. Fast forward a few years and what I thought was a bad case of the flu turned out to be me 12 weeks pregnant. Took the pregnancy test and heard his heartbeat all in the same day! Zach is 3 1/2 now. There is not a day that goes by that I don't just look at him in awe that he is ours. I feel truly blessed and I am a very thankful mom! "

She wanted the pillow because whenever anything seems impossible or difficult for her and for her husband, they look at one another and simply say "3% chance."

Having struggled with infertility for about 5 years prior to the birth of our first child, I related in a very real and personal way to this story. It meant the world to me to be able to create something for this family that has such a wonderful story behind it.

Thanks Lynn!

Isn't life wonderful?~

Frugal Friday~

Today's Frugal Friday post celebrates the magic of spraypaint! I know. I know. Not much new about spraypaint...but wait until you see what it did for this pretty wrought iron bed. If you have been reading my blog for long, you might remember this brass and wrought iron bed that I inherited from my sister-in-law.

Such pretty lines, but sadly in need of an update.

So out came the spraypaint. Krylon ivory satin finish. (Three cans). And voila! The finished headboard!

Such pretty details!

It really adds a certain je-ne-sais-qoui to the Princess' room, don't you think? And don't I sound all fancy using my high school French? ha ha!

Okay, granted the headboard was free, but the project grand total came to just about $8. Not bad for a "new" headboard!

And, I've been thinking that it's high time to do another Frugal Friday Linky Party!!! So let's all meet here next Friday, May 29 and share our Frugal Decorating Know-How!!! I was so amazed at all your ideas last time...I can't wait to see what you all come up with this time...

Have a great weekend~

Brimfield~

Last week, my intrepid sister-in-law Alissa and I decided to go to the Brimfield Antique Mart with four (yes four!!) kids in tow. My two littlest and her two littlest (4 kids, 4 years and under...yes, we may just be crazy!)But the kids did great and she and I did some much needed junque-ing.

Because of my recent toddler-related camera catastrophe, I didn't dare bring my D60 along. AND since I am on a budget, I reigned in my desire to by almost everything I saw. But never fear! I did find a few small treasures to share!

We happened by an architectural salvage dealer whose prices were amazing! I snatched up a few old newspaper print blocks and some old door rosettes!

I had to "blow out" this photo so you can see what the blocks spell...

Here is how they look in my cute little bird tray (a gift from my dear friend Trisha - ah! she knows me well!)

Here are the chippy, timeworn rosettes...I have a great little plan for these...stay tuned.

And if you want to look at some drool-worthy Brimfield photos (and who wouldn't?) check out this post over at Antique Therapy!

Join me tomorrow for Frugal Friday...

Have a great Thursday~

Flora and Fauna~

Today we're making our semi-annual trip with the three boys to see our Pediatric GI docs at Children's Hospital for their Alpha-1. Please keep us in your prayers that all is well with the boys and that their bloodwork numbers are good!



Now on to fun stuff~


It's been a while since I've posted photos for the sake of photos. But since my little camera is back, I've been snapping away....thought I'd share a few images to put us all in a spring-y mood.

These were taken in Maine over the weekend...






And I had to share this portrait of my doggy-niece Lola (she belongs to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law)...isn't she lovely? A natural in front of the camera!

To come this week...

• A wrought iron bed makover and
• Treasures from Brimfield

Stay tuned...


Have a great Wednesday~

Life's a Beach~

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh... Maine was wonderful! One of our favorite places on Earth. Just wish we could have stayed longer. A lot longer.

In honor of the coast, I'm sharing this project which I admit was directly "borrowed" from one of my favorite blogs. Problem is, I didn't save the link, so I can't remember which one. If this project was on your blog, please don't be shy about letting me know so I can give you proper credit. (Edited to add: I've had two commenters who have mentioned that they saw this project at My Romantic Home. They're right! Here's the link. )




So simple, but so striking! I love the beachy feel. Just a little starfish, glued on some linen and framed up in a shabby frame. It makes me smile EVERY time I see it. And it took less than 5 minutes...seriously. Great Gift Alert...I gave one to my mother-in-law for Mother's day. She loved it too!



And remember this little beauty. My cutie-patootie niece. Hop over to my little sis' blog and check out some other darling photos of this sweetie and her uber-cute big sis taken by Holly's talented friend! They'll make you smile!

Have a great day~

Numerical Order~

Okay, so I'm a little obsessed with numbers. I love to use them around my house. You all may remember my numbered dining chairs.

Well, that wasn't enough for me. I decided I had to number my barstools as well. Only this time, instead of handpainting, I went to visit my sister-in-law Alissa who owns a Cricut. Oh yeah! If you haven't used one of these babies, you don't know what you're missing. We took a little sticky-back vinyl and cut out these numbers (and some more that I will use in a future project!) And here they are! I just love them! (I cut out a number 4 too because one of these days we're going to buy a 4th barstool. Mr. Three has decided that he is old enough to sit at the bar with the big kids instead of using a high chair. sigh.)

And speaking of numberd, I also made this fun appliqued number pillow. I'm going to list it in my Etsy early next week. Love it!

We're packing up and heading to Maine this afternoon for a weekend getaway! Can't wait!!

Have a great Thursday~

Look What I Did~

Okay, so first of all, I have to tell you that my dear Nikon D60 is back!! Healed and ready to par-tay! I got her back yesterday and ran around snapping photos of all of my accumulated projects! Hooray!!! New photos to come!!!

Now on to today's fun...

Do you all remember this shower curtain?

I promised that I had something in mind for it... Here's what I did...

I made curtains for my Master Bedroom by cutting the shower curtain in half because I have two windows in my room, cutting the bottom 18" off (it wasn't long enough and I had something else in mind) and adding some of this great linen that I used for my n0-sew bedskirt pictured below.

This is my reading nook...doesn't my crown pillow look so Shabby Cute on my white slipcovered chair? (but I digress.)

So what did I do with the 18" I cut off, you ask?

Why I made more pillows OF COURSE!!

My master is getting closer to being finished!! Oh what a little shower curtain can do.

Have a great Wednesday~

Inspire-Me Tuesday~

Today I wanted to share these drool-worthy photos of a lovely "french flea-market" style cottage. Yeah, so they had me at the name..."french flea market" ...I'm sooo there. Hope you enjoy (and get a little inspiration along the way!)

This porch is too dreamy! Love the settee (and the pink rainboots)

Just love this bed. Might not be practical with a house full of kiddos, but the old chippy door for a base, and the old mantel for a headboard are beyond lovely.

Loving the white slipcovers and the grainsack upholstery, ticking, and of course, toile!

Another view of the same fabulous room!

Love this little bistro set (and the sweet metal birds!)

Sea glass has long been a favorite of mine. I love the colors!

And speaking of color...I soooo love this cupboard. I have a project in mind using this exact color....aah! The possibilities!

All photos from BHG

I love all of the unexpected touches in this dining room. The oversized candelabra...the garden-style folding chairs, the big galvanized bucket of flowers, and the elegant chandelier! Beautiful!

Now go forth, inspire, and be inspired~

Dishes~

One of my favorite things to collect is dishes! They are a great addition to the designer's bag of tricks! Dishes can add dimension to just about any style. They don't have to be relegated to the kitchen or dining room either. You can use them in the living room, in the bedroom or in the bathroom (yes! I really did say the bathroom). They add warmth to table displays. They can be used as "catch alls" on a dresser. They are, simply put, amazing!

Photo from BHG

And the best way to find inexpensive dishes is to thrift them! Tag sales, thrift stores, or discount stores like TJMaxx and Marshalls are some of my favorites.

Photo from Cottage Style

My suggestion for being successful at collecting dishes this way is to pick a color scheme. My personal scheme is white or cream. These are easy to use in table settings and can have more colorful pieces added to them to create a variety of tablesettings or displays. Other popular color schemes include red & white, blue & white, or brown & white. Don't fall into the trap of feeling like the patterns you purchase have to match. If you stick with a color scheme, all your pieces will work harmoniously together and will give you many options!

Photo from Pottery Barn

Do you like to collect dishes?

Frugal Friday~

I know you all have seen this picture about 100 times, but for today's Frugal Friday, I wanted to share my boys' upholstered headboards. Let's face it, headboards can be expensive, but they really give a room a deliberate, decorated look. So what's a girl with Frugal OCD (Obsessively Consumed with Decorating) to do?

When we moved into our house two years ago, I was faced with the decorating dilemma of putting three boys in one room. I knew that I wanted the two beds that would be in the room to match (no, we didn't make Mr. Three sleep on the floor...he's still in a crib), and I knew that I wanted them to look more timeless and sophisticated than cutesy. But I couldn't spend a lot of money.

Then I hit on the idea of upholstering my own headboards.

Here's the process in a nutshell...

What you need:

• Get yourself some plywood...figure out how tall you want the headboards to be, and cut the plywood to size. If you don't have the tools at home, they can do this for you right at the home store or lumber yard.

• Get yourself some batting...

• Get yourself some fabric...the fabric I chose was only about $4.99/yd at JoAnn's. (Trick is to find inexpensive fabric that just looks pricey.)

• Get yourself a staplegun.

Process:

• I know people who will tell you to use spray adhesive and affix the batting to the plywood before adding the fabric. Not this girl! Nope. I just wrapped the batting around the plywood and stapled it on the back. Then I did the same with the fabric making nice hospital corners. In my case, I also wrapped the fabric all the way up the back so that it completely covered all the plywood... this is not necessary, however.

• I wanted a touch more sophistication for my headboards so I added these great monograms. This was as easy as cutting the letters out of white felt and adding them to the headboards with fabric adhesive. Easy Peasy!

Two headboards for under $40 is what I call a deal!


Have a great weekend~

Celebrity~

Well, I"m certainly no celebrity, but my mudroom is!!! It was featured in the summer edition of BHG's Creative Home magazine!!! I feel just like a proud stage mom!

I'm not sure if you can read this scanned page or not (you should be able to if you click on the image to enlarge it), but my mudroom is the feature called "classy closet". They only made one little error when they said that we put up wallpaper. It is actually beadboard. But you know, I"m not going to be picky. I'm just so excited for the press.

It's such a lovely publication. They're on the newstands now just chock full of decorating goodness.

Have a great Thursday~

Pillows~

These pretty little pillows are waiting in my Etsy store for someone to give them a good home. Just thought I'd share some of their "beauty shots" with you! Any of the artwork that you see on these pillows are actually my very own drawings. (Yeah, I know, shameless self promotion.) The typography is not my own handwriting, however. (Ha ha!)

Hop over to my Etsy (on the sidebar) and find these little guys a home of their own. They are so lonely. ;-)
I have some new appliqued pillows that are going to be listed soon....just waiting for my camera to return so they can make their appearance. Stay tuned~