Rewind: Kitchen Island

I thought it would be fun to "rewind" every once and a while and show you some of my earlier posts and projects and then the updates I've made since.<br /><br />If you've been with me for about five minutes, you've seen my kitchen island. But it's one of my favorite changes rehabs I've done in our home and is also one of the <strong>cheapest</strong> and <strong>easiest</strong>.<br /><br />It started way back when, when all five of my friends read my blog. I mean, I have more than five friends, there were only about five reading this blog back then.<br /><br />I swear -- I have more than five friends. For real.<br /><br />My <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/05/laminate-is-indestructible.html">very first post </a>was about how our kitchen was turning into a sea of cherry wood -- floors, cabinets, island, table and chairs:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsRXSXd-xQnWZpL86MCf4Qd6A2fX5NemnRMM_RKm3uv095bplp9b4NNfGisO6N5FYbLqDP9S4x1cA-WLLgJt68V24FbyQdRHVwZhsvLOn8Y2-kW4runy-DPc1lweNvpSPfPNWZ8Ei8eg/s1600-h/DSC03572.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860997444036210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsRXSXd-xQnWZpL86MCf4Qd6A2fX5NemnRMM_RKm3uv095bplp9b4NNfGisO6N5FYbLqDP9S4x1cA-WLLgJt68V24FbyQdRHVwZhsvLOn8Y2-kW4runy-DPc1lweNvpSPfPNWZ8Ei8eg/s400/DSC03572.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I really love islands that look like furniture, so I thought I would change it up and decided to add molding:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKMsTWGPFHPhLyT1P64WFDzSfaDMOYFUQHVFf6ldirARYZkz-9F1xDWxAoRP4GvjvSEzpuV_YzRaFArhKKYlnTnugAGah8EBlE8woK3N14276Sw9W70vmMziRsE4unI4fuvn6VOy3uW0/s1600-h/DSC03590.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860987039706114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKMsTWGPFHPhLyT1P64WFDzSfaDMOYFUQHVFf6ldirARYZkz-9F1xDWxAoRP4GvjvSEzpuV_YzRaFArhKKYlnTnugAGah8EBlE8woK3N14276Sw9W70vmMziRsE4unI4fuvn6VOy3uW0/s400/DSC03590.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I added faux panels to the sides and back and painted the whole thing out in black. This began my deep-seeded hatred of laminate. Laminate and I are not bffs. I actually had thought of doing beadboard, but I think it was impatience that got the best of me at the time.</div><div></div><div><br />After the redo, all the sudden the chairs had to go (isn't that always the way?). So I went to Garden Ridge and found new chairs for the table and island for a steal -- buy one get one get one half off:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860878533821474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96h8S-j3Yh676b0UkyJScZay5E3zAxPIghZsVaZfGISuqeVWrF1R2tnuVh7Q-pVxEr-ISnxq2OK8YEQ80HINuYpxN5fopm3p5XIxhCE2J9Ad3Btab_QWoz2yfkWCEIk5PHAlJeAHPdcI/s400/71520e66-aba1-43bb-8afd-f7b9c5174014_player.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />(The flash makes the island look grey in these pics.) As you know, I love me some beadboard, and I got an itch a few months ago to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/beadboard-kitchen-island.html">redo my redo </a>with it:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jKKuIWcj_Vtk2l1CN1VpPUc9PWOlHrXYRr6Mq_vFsMq1J2Z5NvA5KCzrYrDepqgDwYyt21otaL0DrmQ1kNQgEsJ1eyRzxdmMNV9J6F7tjGvA1tpSbJFYK8y5AAhLSHzjHuJ8dxrVlg0/s1600-h/DSC09770.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860884342952722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jKKuIWcj_Vtk2l1CN1VpPUc9PWOlHrXYRr6Mq_vFsMq1J2Z5NvA5KCzrYrDepqgDwYyt21otaL0DrmQ1kNQgEsJ1eyRzxdmMNV9J6F7tjGvA1tpSbJFYK8y5AAhLSHzjHuJ8dxrVlg0/s400/DSC09770.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Sigh. You just can't go wrong with beadboard -- really. Reheheally. The addition of corbels finished off the furniture-look I was going for:<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyinkpHdMX7jwa5vS1JFy1VeBpuECRvVOBXJ86sItVy_PXeaR1pTrQyVVHZ1DUT0IN_qsVnHUtEMInzJFxrKmNvlMYYTaldZr4LyiMh5dAGH3yfD4ebNBJiiexD1jwMIvaxGbEIB7MoWo/s1600-h/DSC09855.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860867829843922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyinkpHdMX7jwa5vS1JFy1VeBpuECRvVOBXJ86sItVy_PXeaR1pTrQyVVHZ1DUT0IN_qsVnHUtEMInzJFxrKmNvlMYYTaldZr4LyiMh5dAGH3yfD4ebNBJiiexD1jwMIvaxGbEIB7MoWo/s400/DSC09855.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> And then cut down the chair legs by two inches with my compound miter saw (they were too tall) and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/upholstering-unupholstered-chair-and.html">upholstered my chairs</a> to add a pop of color and cush for the tush:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtVmkXUwI2x-kg16gYIeyLRa8yfC5u7a-VLuI8CzHvh-KG144dWuJQ2DAXRg7OQLM5OOPoRt0AxDweQkQs-Jkum8Yi-lLtBjvTZNtCYMqXrmglAlddhGunqdFFrFMMvTTDAMFPGSKfNU/s1600-h/DSC00475.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860860722118818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtVmkXUwI2x-kg16gYIeyLRa8yfC5u7a-VLuI8CzHvh-KG144dWuJQ2DAXRg7OQLM5OOPoRt0AxDweQkQs-Jkum8Yi-lLtBjvTZNtCYMqXrmglAlddhGunqdFFrFMMvTTDAMFPGSKfNU/s400/DSC00475.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I lurve my beadboard island! I know many you have already redone your island or are planning on trying it -- you will love it! <div></div><div><br />Thanks for joining me on this island trip down memory lane. :) </div></div></div></div></div>

Rewind: Kitchen Island

I thought it would be fun to "rewind" every once and a while and show you some of my earlier posts and projects and then the updat...

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A-thrifting we will go!

So if you follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/Thriftydecor">Twitter</a>, I took you along on my trip through a few antique stores today. My friend Jen told me about the great shops in Pendleton, Indiana, and I have been waiting weeks for the right time to take a few hours to head out there.<br /><br /><div><div></div><div>They did not disappoint! It was so fun, I wish you could all go with me! Well, not all of you. We'd be sure to break something, all thousands of us. (Uh, that's nuts, by the way.) </div><br /><div>I wanted to show you some of the stuff I <em>loved</em>. These were toothpick holders:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8R1cJ51h8B4RL9oiUOyGCYpZeUYCZcppIu8f88ycZ5M_GYFhB5L9umd4FrU0bOkLL1AnfIJIXeV42UumUUTkyIn-CVOWH3ca4bNvyNRvasFZoD04Ee6UlV7bR0nZyLAmBlzqoetv9HM/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371492634335239170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8R1cJ51h8B4RL9oiUOyGCYpZeUYCZcppIu8f88ycZ5M_GYFhB5L9umd4FrU0bOkLL1AnfIJIXeV42UumUUTkyIn-CVOWH3ca4bNvyNRvasFZoD04Ee6UlV7bR0nZyLAmBlzqoetv9HM/s400/5.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Oh. my. goodness. gracious, they were adorable. That amber one on the corner to the left, I picked up about eight times. But they were $10 each, and I only use toothpicks when I bake, and I only bake, like, uhhhhh...</div><br /><div>Well, let's just say it's not worth the $10. </div><br /><div>I loved the color of these Ball jars:</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K9xw_D1VO3hyD_S-bGWsfVjwTSGfTlcy5Zc6wnnF-8V6f1ZTYQvw4teThGXxBm9y-hVpmfaVtaRf5HbxhBKmvAS4_fWS1_bMOJZmOHwYnhP9yQY0nn7cVhDwOUoPOa-_UPeaKkEEUFs/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371492630790505986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K9xw_D1VO3hyD_S-bGWsfVjwTSGfTlcy5Zc6wnnF-8V6f1ZTYQvw4teThGXxBm9y-hVpmfaVtaRf5HbxhBKmvAS4_fWS1_bMOJZmOHwYnhP9yQY0nn7cVhDwOUoPOa-_UPeaKkEEUFs/s400/4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>The owner of the shop told me that the Ball jars with the number 13 are worth much more, because in the "olden days" the women would break those with a 13 on them because they were superstitious. Then during prohibition, the men who would drink out of these jars wouldn't use the 13 jars either. I mean, how cool is that? I love hearing the history behind items like these. </div><div></div><div><br />I am a sucker for old, chunky corbels:</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371504987539948274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM1eyv4x7icS9vE0STiUM-AV2qVeUVSz2NLTGqCv1IjxPqGWaWuCEdlNkjHhdaTHWZQysPlpcxf9yYyBFSN00FmLMrwVuMtvg0kuvVpZhISAG4WonKtsbVRywOHM2o3QmOES-XOaE4is/s400/corbels.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />These were $22 each, but I found one for $9.99. Awwww yeah...<br /><br /><div>You've probably seen these in the Pottery Barn catalog:<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491087821492082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR8sRDRCSO2Dg9QTGL7s6QDNHIN_3HC5evhkQxM5EsJtjrB8NqVxpsKwtYhp2lzuk7WWsiZ4mRQo4OeFHxMrB4SFSQoNJ5576uEhmAdd9-ztZJgqpXyqd6Y7SetLjuXNd0R3RyP7HCfM/s400/photo.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491078313136786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-aORiZP9sWYaluHdEP5anuHWJESoC8FVBoG5QIcIlh9U-gGYFORogcZx_SNTT19KENlL4nAuFDyLHlCfUIQndUdLqDNpudrWXhist6zM_fVb_VKPYELIwSlMmZXio4zmSYgi1kAXdrg/s400/3.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Psssst...they are cheaper at antique stores. <span style="font-size:78%;">You didn't hear it from me.</span> I absolutely LOVE them. I would do the Pepsi case cause I'm a Pepsi girl, but they just don't go with my decor. I really want one for the deck, but until they make one in brown, green and rust, it just isn't going to work for me. Gah. I'm weird like that, I know.<br /><div></div><br /><div>So what did I get?? Squeal! I can't wait to show you! I saw this key tray in the first shop, and I knew it must be mine:</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rRJVnxDkOlxbx2eh-K1Si8Tg3c-GZt06XZFWiuyy1TFc8peWy1qq6ldWKDRqoMcp_qrtQhZplL1eATK0xN5_Zbwcg3TVucVbLi5w2hVt735lq0QXdHw-ktZECkti1sak3I4CGY98aVU/s1600-h/DSC01187.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491901638698354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rRJVnxDkOlxbx2eh-K1Si8Tg3c-GZt06XZFWiuyy1TFc8peWy1qq6ldWKDRqoMcp_qrtQhZplL1eATK0xN5_Zbwcg3TVucVbLi5w2hVt735lq0QXdHw-ktZECkti1sak3I4CGY98aVU/s400/DSC01187.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The sides are large keys. I am fairly sure it is not antique, but that's what you get with antique shops -- some "real" stuff, some not, some junk. All I know is I love it! It holds my skeleton keys. </div><br /><div>This milk glass compote is the biggest I've seen and I just adore it:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiq03YGx5e_S3J6KE2VdN_4UTOIU8PqIA0c1FhzBBEG55czr2mMul0OavgZNMh1rO336CzQU9OPCKIhVm_1746bFSaISwWbHyvPRsuonUy4mEMnVnlJezNw-Y1oIC8k15oGHVmA4tK9I/s1600-h/DSC01204.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491889828567234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiq03YGx5e_S3J6KE2VdN_4UTOIU8PqIA0c1FhzBBEG55czr2mMul0OavgZNMh1rO336CzQU9OPCKIhVm_1746bFSaISwWbHyvPRsuonUy4mEMnVnlJezNw-Y1oIC8k15oGHVmA4tK9I/s400/DSC01204.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I'm finding myself more and more attracted to these white pretties. And it was only $4! I thought the tag was wrong for sure. For now, I threw in some hydrangeas, but I see many possibilities with this one. </div><br /><div></div><div>Look at the pretty detail!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvDjXhd9s0dYDdwJuuyYOycQTw54_CDAgfy9wU8EBOMb_7et_zHsHONKF-b9YFVSU4vG6j9JAwB93-yn6ObLQkJDTq80VTZM3mEhLU6X5DPo3B9TOk_an0NUt4K34y3ensvUe8e6tDKo/s1600-h/DSC01209.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491883662355122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvDjXhd9s0dYDdwJuuyYOycQTw54_CDAgfy9wU8EBOMb_7et_zHsHONKF-b9YFVSU4vG6j9JAwB93-yn6ObLQkJDTq80VTZM3mEhLU6X5DPo3B9TOk_an0NUt4K34y3ensvUe8e6tDKo/s400/DSC01209.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This little clock was $5, and I just think it's a perfect little accent:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAeNn5fo-LsLD6cpLlO60325zUTfRt1kCYYXuqvnnIWNxidwW6UDDiSN4FSEcfsEe2q0p16Qb_57SQxVw5GdX7Wva_cuX-h076QfIi4T5ZhPTBOPJJq1wbaBUOYmAS8R7qhuW9a2rNqw/s1600-h/DSC01181.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491875251951970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAeNn5fo-LsLD6cpLlO60325zUTfRt1kCYYXuqvnnIWNxidwW6UDDiSN4FSEcfsEe2q0p16Qb_57SQxVw5GdX7Wva_cuX-h076QfIi4T5ZhPTBOPJJq1wbaBUOYmAS8R7qhuW9a2rNqw/s400/DSC01181.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0YTawXDVcxVQhyphenhyphenJet1r2aYaopBOyNZTIZ07mh3gz0Ir4P_6uwnbgHn8CJiqeNhtPk1xn0RAhbLWO8H8MTx0HPC6b8ahuPmSZqTGgfYwokm-P6BohffkFYtam2fXoU_eoOIq032HQPXU/s1600-h/DSC01182.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491102477947538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0YTawXDVcxVQhyphenhyphenJet1r2aYaopBOyNZTIZ07mh3gz0Ir4P_6uwnbgHn8CJiqeNhtPk1xn0RAhbLWO8H8MTx0HPC6b8ahuPmSZqTGgfYwokm-P6BohffkFYtam2fXoU_eoOIq032HQPXU/s400/DSC01182.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Often I find I will spend more at certain stores that I wouldn't spend at others -- do you do this? Like I doubt I would have paid $5 for this little clock at Goodwill, but because it was at an antique shop, (even though it may not be an antique), I did? I'm an odd bird. </div><br /><div>My most fabulous find had me skipping! <em>SKIPPING</em> people. I went back through one shop for a second look, and really took my time. I don't know how I missed this the first time through: </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491068336307746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM9DmHbXB1WzruPR5DACFoamO4qioyKvq8eUtPI-pUNRYQqAa2aPxpKeCr6JsZItt_ShDcN2txprwuHKsuvhcF9_tmEzWG8ojD7s6haFX6yAHBo9wtA34Y_wUItuy9iH2cwTSmgIarFg/s400/2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> A beautiful, <em>large</em>, cedar chest! For only FORTY BUCKS. I could not believe my eyes. I mean, this is a good deal, right? I have no idea how much these are worth. The stain is lovely, but I will redo the top, just not sure what I'll do:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371491074961152658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCZNHRFe20FKuIr0y4VR_QnyJayU11GGnSZllFboZp8GoCM7Ws3Yb-ru8_XcZtfHBaovwRtMlFxLs3VQorC2KM3Ai0q2VXtgdp7b2GgXb6IdZ6Hd6VRruSSzjoWFO7rweJoQCskP-Py4/s400/DSC01211.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> It is GORG. I thought I knew where I wanted to put it, but I think I may try something move some things around and experiment...stay tuned. How should I clean the cedar? Can I wipe it down with cleaning wipes, or should I use something specific? I am new to cedar. ;)<br /></div><div><br />I treated myself to this excursion today because I am <em>finally </em>caught up on my consultations! So if you have sent pictures and have not heard from me, I didn't get them -- just let me know. I so enjoy working with you all and getting you excited about your homes! I love it! </div><br /><div>I will not be taking any new consults until I've finished all of those who have paid for one but haven't sent their info yet -- I'll let ya'll know when I'm ready to start up again! And at that point I'm going to take a certain amount a month, just for my own sanity. ;) I'll let you know the details soon my Squeezies. (If you have e-mailed me about a consult, please go ahead and send your info!)</div><br /><div>Fun announcements coming up soon...can't wait to share with you! <span style="font-size:78%;">Squeal! </span><span style="font-size:100%;">(And again, no, I am not pregnant.) :)</span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">ann</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

A-thrifting we will go!

So if you follow me on Twitter , I took you along on my trip through a few antique stores today. My friend Jen told me about the great shops...

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A Ballard Pear

Wow, you guys love a giveaway! I love me some vinyl, glad you do too! Hang in till the end and I'll announce the winner. (I'm mean like that.)<br /><br />So for at least five years, probably more, I've admired these Ballard Designs pears:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsN07Wgu18X11voFMdjERILdrHgCU1U0g7vaau8gV6gqGKtKgGx7lcPEe0O02CWqiPk7FPC5IVZcNSmy7GgxgMc4hCWrxXSFnkKtuNvdP7FC-8GEbgIeOjw3-lNHlp8xbHUhRhvMjZzI/s1600-h/AA646_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370772090326053506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsN07Wgu18X11voFMdjERILdrHgCU1U0g7vaau8gV6gqGKtKgGx7lcPEe0O02CWqiPk7FPC5IVZcNSmy7GgxgMc4hCWrxXSFnkKtuNvdP7FC-8GEbgIeOjw3-lNHlp8xbHUhRhvMjZzI/s400/AA646_1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 368px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 368px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I don't know what it is about them, but they make my heart all a-flutter. You know I love <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-fruity-kitchen.html">all things fruity</a>, so it's probably just a personal thing I need to work out. But I think these are just classic and timeless. Oh, and <em>adorable</em>.<br /><br />Months and months ago, I found a pear -- same size, same shape (uhh, that would be pear shape) at the local thrift store. It was only $7 and I snatched it up. It is a stone material and was grey -- like cement -- when I bought it.<br /><br />You know I have issues with painting things black, and without really thinking about it, I spray painted it black:<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6facv9BkUkUfwAeNl8Ryi5XPs2EZfJ52MNnHstxg8BHYKP52ijaW_MB4DOJ2g1Wy4VHDEd47Kbahgd2zEtJ2Nj0H0Q_6ebRuXuVDS6rKzFjAtYzHn3d-lIq551loPo2mJ8HNhpmKIyU/s1600-h/DSC08600.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370770572108123474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6facv9BkUkUfwAeNl8Ryi5XPs2EZfJ52MNnHstxg8BHYKP52ijaW_MB4DOJ2g1Wy4VHDEd47Kbahgd2zEtJ2Nj0H0Q_6ebRuXuVDS6rKzFjAtYzHn3d-lIq551loPo2mJ8HNhpmKIyU/s400/DSC08600.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Umkay. Who? <strong>Who</strong> wants a <em>black </em>pear in their kitchen? I don't know what the heck I was thinking. Grody. So a few weeks ago I was on a mission to transform it from an old moldy pear to a bright, green, ripe one. </div><div></div><div><br />I found green craft paint I thought would work, (called Houser Light Green), and my trusty Burnt Umber, which I use for <em>everything</em>. It is a fabulous color:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dmI7zC7Xw2gx2hQHsOEMK3pbeGvQa07meuWDk8JWOg5mrT7D5zV-HvcveKIk-SELse_1QFp44lm-Vxe46kWIRyRohnqRODsTVxIgdGyuuqk7RxuEQYU8h06F_MPn1D-DS13f1beFQbc/s1600-h/DSC01180.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370768522326927874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dmI7zC7Xw2gx2hQHsOEMK3pbeGvQa07meuWDk8JWOg5mrT7D5zV-HvcveKIk-SELse_1QFp44lm-Vxe46kWIRyRohnqRODsTVxIgdGyuuqk7RxuEQYU8h06F_MPn1D-DS13f1beFQbc/s400/DSC01180.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I used my sponge brush to paint the whole thing green, and wooee, was it green! I am not good at "faux" or distressing, or anything that involves going back over a perfectly good painted item and very possibly ruining it, but it was just too green. </div><div></div><div><br />I looked at a real pear, looked at my inspiration pear from Ballard, held my breath, and started painting on the brown here and there:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370768500200732770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2HeqMwWYGBAoQk3MoTL1Eg2Ra861laB_jSsUX6rCs4NldQTA8zUqvtNE_5sx6v-CqUP_JHiYsOZafTn9fjjf1XFQAb5bclhF0Qq7w3ZR3zcG5jxbIW8agDzmGja1Fx-mOe-Gcwk-L_8/s400/DSC01171.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I got a paper towel slightly damp and just rubbed the brown around as I worked, while it was wet. I <em>loved</em> the result!:</div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSXz9m9TuFybgED8EYv9I90rLiRI_OKwxa-cCg-QYtKc9xXSkpAbX4w-IOuEAVboodDejfsWjz6TyeyWNy4yiSypgbgr6t3dElxQFZWxww0G0sQRFCSA9kmoOxUe0i5Yi-zMZMv4Gzfc/s1600-h/DSC01167.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370768490211803570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSXz9m9TuFybgED8EYv9I90rLiRI_OKwxa-cCg-QYtKc9xXSkpAbX4w-IOuEAVboodDejfsWjz6TyeyWNy4yiSypgbgr6t3dElxQFZWxww0G0sQRFCSA9kmoOxUe0i5Yi-zMZMv4Gzfc/s400/DSC01167.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> <em>Helloooooo</em> -- the real Ballard pear is $49.00. Mine was a total of $8. My pear is the same exact size as the real one too. Can it get any better? Could this pear <em>be</em> any cuter? (Please tell me know you what show <strong>that</strong> is from!!) <div></div><div><br />For more of my Ballard inspiration projects, like my jute:<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771390758922498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFK2Wx_NGal9jafHUQ1swealSlXo2zQ-2z1iAkdUb9y8V5CWh-ZPRz9yVnvoV9ge1k_-X1AhB26xRYUbSw1kNw9TGF9sNz7W-scWQ82o-Tj7_L8_euIJKI5LSM8kP6-CybmbxDOyRX2I/s400/BT200_1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/using-ballard-as-inspiration-to-make-my.html">here</a>:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771407873390498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDtzhCLZ6Q0tegh6Xha95tG7JqhOeLr5x5_b-k_PdgkvCI689EIAKQLTQw3J9N5oqqxpm12xh8DuA_APzzF8UaYYu9P33gDq8rFtqgqtIdeNz6d6cF-vzVj9EKR5sFbWJ7pFnaTd5ZyA/s400/DSC08411.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> And <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/five-dollar-spring-projects.html">here</a>:<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771399660820770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz5u4YiM8yRKXYTRx7EiAft64FXZUbkpPIYWt3go2HuGX3d07GVArwaRqTJyhYY1OOvE1HFR1FovHuaNH7ZG9fz9dfE6SHT-KEfBi7_-t6FOIeC4uZ7KrSED0HjSOL9QFOCkbi9EuJUA/s400/DSC08864.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>And to see how I copied this wall art:</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771371741653970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C0TGbPnLLEKTfZRcBS8YUFunEKFfIwAPkyKRVbAFt36ljJjQWMGaJ7hSe_FQpSJ-bNaeBufwycCh9A6q83FPCpev7oqBsg3dd9-To3izTLp9QISj6twEIA-41-i-EadX9Q3ItmHt8qE/s400/ballard.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 368px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 368px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>Go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-ballard-designs-as-inspiration.html">here</a>:</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771380042023042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oUX70JQXD2RS19quoveGrTaK1CILJj8boDt6KeO_lS7sd7uYSOAFt2p5q6ifu8qOt0OxSHP_9stt5SvFf2jYHqd-b1TEDJQOfXe7ga1R-xCMdJLmlYl8XLlv7QzMcc135YPiGy2iGbU/s400/DSC00066.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />OK, the winner (picked by Random.org) of E.A.D Design's vine wall art is Rameelin from Raising Redheads!! If you can e-mail me, I will get you in touch with Emily! Congrats!!</p>

A Ballard Pear

Wow, you guys love a giveaway! I love me some vinyl, glad you do too! Hang in till the end and I'll announce the winner. (I'm mean l...

Read more »